Defintion of Cleave

From last night--the question arose as to what "cleave" meant other than "splitting". I looked it up on Dictionary.com--here are the answers:

1. cleave ( P ) (klv)v. cleft, (klft) or cleaved or clove (klv) cleft, or cleaved or clo·ven (klvn) cleav·ing, cleaves v. tr.

To split with or as if with a sharp instrument. See Synonyms at tear1.
To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting: cleave a path through the ice.
To pierce or penetrate: The wings cleaved the foggy air.

Chemistry. To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules. v. intr.

Mineralogy. To split or separate, especially along a natural line of division.
To penetrate or pass through something, such as water or air.

2. cleave ( P ) (klv)intr.v. cleaved, cleav·ing, cleaves
To adhere, cling, or stick fast.
To be faithful: cleave to one's principles.

3. cleave v 1: separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument; "cleave the bone" [syn: split, rive] 2: make by cutting into; "The water is going to cleave a channel into the rock" 3: come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation; "The dress clings to her body"; "The label stuck to the box"; "The sushi rice grains cohere" [syn: cling, adhere, stick, cohere]

I definitely think it is interesting how the same word in the English language has two definitions that are almost direct antonyms. How the same word can mean to stick fast and to split, tear, penetrate is interesting. But here you have it...