cleft¹ Definition
cleft (kleft)
noun
- an opening made by or as by cleaving; crack; crevice
- a hollow between two parts
Etymology: ME clift < OE *clyft < cleofan: see cleave
cleft² Definition
cleft (kleft)
intransitive verb
transitive verb
- cleave
- to insert (a scion) into the stock of a plant
adjective
- split; divided
- 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 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
Browse dictionary entries near cleft
- cleft lip ›
- cleft palate ›
- Cleisthenes ›
- cleistogamous ›
- cleistogamy ›
- clematis ›
- Clemenceau ›
- clemency ›
- Clemens ›
- clement ›

