cleft Hear it!

cleft¹ Definition

cleft (kleft)

noun

  1. an opening made by or as by cleaving; crack; crevice
  2. a hollow between two parts

Etymology: ME clift < OE *clyft < cleofan: see cleave

cleft² Definition

cleft (kleft)

intransitive verb

cleave

transitive verb

  1. cleave
  2. to insert (a scion) into the stock of a plant

adjective

  1. split; divided
  2. Bot. divided by one or more narrow spaces extending more than halfway to the midrib: said of leaves, as an oak leaf

cleft Synonyms

cleft

modif.

cleft Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • call: Instead, there is a tiny gap called the synaptic cleft.
  • have: He was a man who had a cleft lower lip.

Adjective modifier

  • synaptic: Instead, there is a tiny gap called the synaptic cleft.
  • natal: This is a pilonidal sinus with multiple sinus tracks on either side of natal cleft.
  • binding: The binding cleft can be seen to the right.
  • rocky: Along the way, we saw a Little Owl roosting in a rocky cleft.
  • narrow: From the gate to the entrance you can pass through another deep and very narrow cleft called the Roman Cave.
  • deep: It is an ancient tract of woodland running along a deep rocky cleft.

Modifies a noun

  • palate: The most common problem is cleft palate where the nose or lips do not form properly.
  • lip: Why are babies born with a cleft lip or cleft palate?
  • cyst: AB - We report a case of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst with ossification.
  • stick: Man with message and cleft stick does reach Brixton?
  • sentence: I used the cleft sentence in this example in order to make a point mostly.
  • surgery: His brother George has had heart and cleft palate surgery and his sister Kim has severe developmental problems.

Noun used with modifier

site: Difference electron density for a molecule of AMPPNP is observed in the kinase active site cleft.

Preposition: in

  • cliff: When the company rode out of the cleft in the cliff they were greeted by an unfamiliar sight.
  • rock: Above, in a cleft in the rocks, stands a statue of Our Lady.
  • hill: The Convent was toward the head of the cleft in the hills, near the top of the town.

Preposition: of

  • palate: He quietens and adds: " My second son, Andrew, was born with a bilateral cleft of the palate and upper lip.
  • rock: God placed him in the cleft of the rock.

Browse dictionary entries near cleft

  1. clef
  2. cleek
  3. CLEC
  4. cleavers
  5. cleaver
  6. cleave
  7. cleavage
  8. cleat
  9. clearwing
  10. Clearwater
  1. cleft lip
  2. cleft palate
  3. Cleisthenes
  4. cleistogamous
  5. cleistogamy
  6. clematis
  7. Clemenceau
  8. clemency
  9. Clemens
  10. clement