Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cleaver

/ˈklivɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.04 in modern English

Syllables
cleaver
IPA
/ˈklivɚ/
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A squarish, heavy knife used by butchers for hacking through bones, etc.

noun

The act of eliminating someone or something, especially when done by someone with a history of other eliminations; a dismissal, rejection, or removal.

noun

A line segment that bisects the perimeter of a triangle and has one endpoint at the midpoint of one of the triangle's three sides.

name

A surname from Middle English.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English clevere, equivalent to cleave + -er.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈklivɚ/

Inflected Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce cleaver?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈklivɚ/.
What does cleaver mean?
A squarish, heavy knife used by butchers for hacking through bones, etc.
Where does cleaver come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce cleaver

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cleaver”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈklivɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cleaver”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “cleaver” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.