Meanings
claves1
nounclaves pl (normally plural, singular clave)
singular clave
- pluralplural normallyentertainmentA percussion instrument, consisting of two sticks or blocks, in which one is struck against the other in order to produce a sound.
Synonyms: cleavers
claves2
noun
- pluralplural of clavis
claves3
noun
- pluralplural of clave
verb
- indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of clave
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA percussion instrument, consisting of two sticks or blocks, in which one is struck against the other in order to produce a sound.
Similar
Origin
claves · noun
- Latinclāvis“a key; a lever, bar”
- Spanishclaves
- Englishclaves
Borrowed from Latin American Spanish claves (plural), from Latin clāvis (“a key; a lever, bar”).
More words from Spanish, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan bastons, claves
- bastonspercussion instrument
- clavespercussion instrument
Czech ozvučná dřívka
- ozvučná dřívkapercussion instrument
Finnish rytmikapulat
- rytmikapulatpercussion instrument
Italian legnetti
- legnettipercussion instrument
Māori poro rākau
- poro rākaupercussion instrument
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with claves
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
claves. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/claves
MLA
“claves.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/claves. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “claves,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/claves.
Source: claves on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.