Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » cleft

cleft

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a cleft is a space between two parts, an opening made by a split or a crack.

(noun)

An example of a cleft is the crack along a fault line.

See cleft in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

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

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

intransitive verb

cleave

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

See cleft in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb

A past tense and a past participle of cleave¹.

adjective

Divided; split.
Botany Having indentations that extend about halfway to the center, as in certain leaves.

noun

A crack, crevice, or split.
A split or indentation between two parts, as of the chin.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , past participle of cleven, to split; see cleave¹

Origin: . N., from Middle English

Origin: , alteration (influenced by cleft)

Origin: of clift

Origin: , from Old English geclyft; see gleubh- in Indo-European roots

Learn more about cleft

cleft synonyms

cleft medical definition

cleft in a sentence

cleft quotes

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD

» more results...