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rift¹ Definition

rift (rift)

noun

  1. an opening caused by or as if by splitting; cleft; fissure
  2. an open break in a previously friendly relationship
  3. Geol. a large fault along which movement was mainly lateral

Etymology: ME < Dan, fissure < rive, to tear < ON rifa: see rive

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to burst open; split

rift² Definition

rift (rift)

noun

a shallow, often rocky place in a stream, forming rapids

Etymology: ? var. of obs. riff, altered < reef

rift Synonyms

rift

n.

  1. An opening caused by splitting

    fissure, cleft, split, crack; see break 1, fracture 2, hole 1.

  2. A break in a friendly relationship

    breach, rupture, estrangement; see disagreement 1, divorce.

rift Usage Examples

Object

margin: Basalt was erupted also along the rifted margin of eastern India ( Rajmahal ).

Converse of object

  • hade: The chamber appears to be formed on the hading rift seen below the entrance.
  • heal: More » Brown attempts to heal leadership rift By David Clarke.. .
  • descend: A steeply descending rift with chamber at base full of boulders which prevented further progress.
  • choke: This stream can be followed to a terminal choke where it sinks in a choked rift.
  • meander: Continuing further along the meandering rift a junction is met with a 35m high aven straight ahead.
  • ascend: Ahead, an ascending rift, covered in ' popcorn ' , was not pushed further to avoid damage to formations.

Adjective modifier

  • phreatic: A steeply ascending phreatic rift was gained heading north east to reach a point some 45m above the start of the climb.
  • too-tight: Description: A 2-3m climb down to a too-tight rift down which dropped rocks will rattle for several seconds.
  • impenetrable: However, my comments about the impenetrable rift had not been forgotten.
  • tight: The entrance is a tight vertical rift about forty feet deep.
  • impassable: Above, the passage narrowed into an impassable rift.
  • narrow: A short passage led into a narrow rift which soon met with the stream.

Modifies a noun

  • passage: At the cascades, a high rift passage leads off for 60m with calcite flowers on the floor.
  • valley: To the east a similar rift valley marks the end of the Uganda plateau.
  • chamber: Past a couple of descents, the rift chamber ends in a bedding area, on two levels.
  • basin: Included are a map of the lake and associated rift basins; a multichannel seismic reflection line; and sediment core analyzes.

Noun used with modifier

  • draughting: A number of draughting rifts ( 1903, 1904 and 1905 ) were also documented below this entrance.
  • bouldery: Description: A man sized hole was opened in a bouldery rift.
  • widening: But, below my feet it drops away down into a widening rift, not to be attempted on the rope we have.

Browse dictionary entries near rift

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