claves

Borrowed from Latin American Spanish claves (plural), from Latin clāvis (“a key; a lever, bar”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kleɪvz/, /klɑːvz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈklɑˌveɪz/, /kleɪvz/
• Rhymes: -eɪvz, -ɑːvz

claves pl (normally plural, singular clave)

1. (music) A percussion instrument, consisting of two sticks or blocks, in which one is struck against the other in order to produce a sound.

One generally speaks of playing "the claves"; the singular form is seldom used.

• cleavers (Bahamas)

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkleɪˌviz/, /ˈklɑˌveɪz/

claves

1. plural of clavis

• rhythm sticks

• “claves”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “clave”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

• Sclave, calves

claves

1. second-person singular present indicative/subjunctive of clavar

claves

1. second-person singular present indicative of clavar

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈkɫaː.weːs]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈklaː.ves]

clāvēs

1. nominative/accusative/vocative plural of clāvis

claves

1. plural of clave

claves m pl or f pl

1. plural of clave

claves f pl

1. plural of clave

claves

1. second-person singular present subjunctive of clavar