Rift Definition

rĭft
rifts
noun
rifts
An opening caused by or as if by splitting; cleft; fissure.
Webster's New World
An open break in a previously friendly relationship.
Webster's New World
A large fault along which tectonic movement was mainly lateral.
Webster's New World
A shallow area in a waterway.
American Heritage
A shallow, often rocky place in a stream, forming rapids.
Webster's New World
verb
rifts
To burst open; split.
Webster's New World
To cause to split open or break.
American Heritage
(intransitive) To form a rift.
Wiktionary

(obsolete except Scotland and northern UK) To belch.

Wiktionary

(obsolete) Past participle of rive.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Rift

Noun

Singular:
rift
Plural:
rifts

Origin of Rift

  • Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish/Norwegian rift 'breach', Old Norse rífa 'to tear'. More at rive.

    From Wiktionary

  • Probably alteration of dialectal riff reef from Dutch rif, riffe reef1

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English of Scandinavian origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old Norse rypta.

    From Wiktionary

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