cleaver

noun

cleav·​er ˈklē-vər How to pronounce cleaver (audio)
1
: one that cleaves
especially : a butcher's implement for cutting animal carcasses into joints or pieces
2
: a prehistoric stone tool having a sharp edge at one end

Examples of cleaver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The naked man arrested at a Ventura County high school and linked to killing a teen at a nearby home is the son of the man who killed a 6-year-old boy with a meat cleaver in 2007, authorities said. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 The knifes range from the wee (petty and paring knives) to the grand (cleavers and vegetable knives). Scott Hocker, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Earlier that morning, without warning, his 15-year-old son Ming (Dylan So) murdered his mother and younger sister Grace (Lainey Hung) with a meat cleaver. Richard Kuipers, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024 Comments The horror genre tends to be as subtle as a meat cleaver to the skull. Keith Staskiewicz, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cleaver 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cleaver was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cleaver

Cite this Entry

“Cleaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleaver. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

cleaver

noun
cleav·​er ˈklē-vər How to pronounce cleaver (audio)
: a heavy knife with a wide blade

More from Merriam-Webster on cleaver

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