clave

1 of 2

past tense of cleave

clave

2 of 2

noun

ˈklä-(ˌ)vā How to pronounce clave (audio) ˈklāv How to pronounce clave (audio)
: one of a pair of cylindrical hardwood sticks that are used as a percussion instrument

Examples of clave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
La clave para impulsar la innovación desde diversas perspectivas es la disidencia constructiva: la capacidad de un equipo para participar con respeto en el intercambio de puntos de vista contradictorios. — Por Timothy R. Clark, Harvard Business Review, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

American Spanish, from Spanish, keystone, clef, from Latin clavis

First Known Use

Noun

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clave was in 1928

Rhymes for clave

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Browse Nearby Words

clavation
clave
clavecin
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Cite this Entry

“Clave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clave. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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