rift¹ Definition
rift (rift)
noun
- an opening caused by or as if by splitting; cleft; fissure
- an open break in a previously friendly relationship
- 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.
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
- Rift Valley ›
- rig ›
- Rig-Veda ›
- Riga ›
- rigadoon ›
- rigamarole ›
- Rigas, John ›
- rigatoni ›
- Rigel ›
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