different between cleaving vs flaky

English

Pronunciation

Verb

cleaving

1. present participle of cleave

Adjective

cleaving (not comparable)

1. That cleaves

Noun

cleaving (plural cleavings)

1. The act of one who cleaves, splits, or severs.
2. The act of one who cleaves, clings, or adheres.
   • 1813, John Owen, The grace and duty of being spiritually minded

     On all of them they renew their cleavings to God with love and delight.

English

Alternative forms

• flakey

Etymology

flake +? -y (“having the quality of”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fle?ki?/
• Rhymes: -e?ki

Adjective

flaky (comparative flakier, superlative flakiest)

1. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.
2. (informal, of a person) Unreliable; likely to make plans with others but then abandon those plans.
   • 2014, Joseph Itiel, A Consumer's Guide to Male Hustlers

     I have noticed that when hustlers upgrade themselves to models (as distinguished from models who have never hustled) they tend to continue being flaky about appointments. On my last trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I was stood up twice.

3. (informal, of a thing) Unreliable; working only on an intermittent basis; likely to malfunction.

   I cannot enjoy the online game because of my flaky Internet connection.

Derived terms

• flakily

Translations