claves

See also: clavés

English

a set of claves

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

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.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

• cleavers (Bahamas)

Translations

percussion instrument

• Catalan: bastons (ca) m pl, claves (ca) f pl
• Czech: ozvučná dřívka n pl
• Finnish: rytmikapulat
• Italian: legnetti m pl
• Maori: poro rākau

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

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

Noun

claves

1. plural of clavis

See also

• rhythm sticks

References

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

Anagrams

• Sclave, calves

Asturian

Verb

claves

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

Catalan

Verb

claves

1. second-person singular present indicative of clavar

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈklaː.u̯eːs/, [ˈkɫ̪äːu̯eːs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈkla.ves/, [ˈkläːves]

Noun

clāvēs

1. nominative/accusative/vocative plural of clāvis

Portuguese

Noun

claves

1. plural of clave

Spanish

Adjective

claves m pl or f pl

1. plural of clave

Noun

claves f pl

1. plural of clave

Verb

claves

1. second-person singular present subjunctive of clavar