%clave%

n. [ F., fr. Gr. a'yto`s self + L. clavis key. ] 1. A kind of French stewpan with a steam-tight lid. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a device used for sterilizing objects by exposing them to steam at above atmospheric pressure (and thus at a temperature above the normal boiling point of water). It consists of a closed chamber able to withstand internal pressure, and a means of passing superheated steam into the chamber. Autoclaves are made in various sizes, and are much used in hospitals and research laboratories to render instruments and equipment sterile. [ PJC ]

imp. of Cleave. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] The harpsichord. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Clevis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Clavate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. LL. cineres clavelatti ashes of burnt lees or dregs of wine, F. clavel an inferior sort of soda, E. clavate. ] (Old Chem.) Said of potash, probably in reference to its having been obtained from billets of wood by burning. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] See Clover. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Frivolous or nonsensical talk; prattle; chattering. [ Scot. & North of Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Emmy found herself entirely at a loss in the midst of their clavers. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. conclave a room that may locked up; con- + clavis key. See Clavicle. ] 1. The set of apartments within which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church are continuously secluded while engaged in choosing a pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The body of cardinals shut up in the conclave for the election of a pope; hence, the body of cardinals. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was said a cardinal, by reason of his apparent likelihood to step into St. Peter's chair, that in two conclaves he went in pope and came out again cardinal. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A private meeting; a close or secret assembly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The verdicts pronounced by this conclave (Johnson's Club) on new books, were speedily known over all London. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be in conclave, to be engaged in a secret meeting; -- said of several, or a considerable number of, persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. in + clavus a nail. ] A tract of land or a territory inclosed within another territory of which it is independent. See Exclave. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. enclaver. ] To inclose within an alien territory. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] The state of being an enclave. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formed fr. enclave by substitution of ex- for en- ] A portion of a country which is separated from the main part and surrounded by politically alien territory. [ Recent. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The same territory is an enclave in respect to the surrounding country and an exclave with respect to the country to which it is politically attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Inclavated. ] (Her.) Resembling a series of dovetails; -- said of a line of division, such as the border of an ordinary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. laticlavus, laticlavium; latus broad + clavus nail, a purple stripe on the tunica: cf. F. laticlave. ] (Rom. Antiq.) A broad stripe of purple on the fore part of the tunic, worn by senators in ancient Rome as an emblem of office. [ 1913 Webster ]