noun

cleft

KLEHFT

Cleft (noun) means a narrow opening, crack, or V-shaped gap, especially in rock or in part of the body. Example: “A small stream ran through a cleft in the hillside.”

noun

A narrow opening, crack, or V-shaped gap, especially in rock or in part of the body.

"A small stream ran through a cleft in the hillside."

"He had a noticeable cleft in his chin."

adj

Split or divided, especially by a deep crack or notch.

"The baby was born with a cleft lip that surgeons later corrected."

"A cleft rock marked the entrance to the cave."

How to use cleft

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA split, crack, or notch — used for rock formations, chins, and certain birth conditions like cleft lip/palate.

Common pairings

cleft chin cleft lip cleft in the rock

Word forms

clefted past tense, clefts plural, clefts singular

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A small stream ran through a _____ in the hillside.

Etymology

From Old English geclyft, related to "cleave" (to split) — a cleft is literally something that has been cloven.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for cleft

EFT left deft theft

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cleft” mean?

The word “cleft” means a narrow opening, crack, or V-shaped gap, especially in rock or in part of the body. In plain terms, a split, crack, or notch — used for rock formations, chins, and certain birth conditions like cleft lip/palate.

How do you pronounce “cleft”?

“Cleft” is pronounced KLEHFT (/ˈklɛft/ in IPA).

How do you use “cleft” in a sentence?

Here is “cleft” used in a sentence: “A small stream ran through a cleft in the hillside.”

What part of speech is “cleft”?

Depending on how it is used, “cleft” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “cleft” come from?

The word “cleft” comes from Old English. From Old English geclyft, related to "cleave" (to split) — a cleft is literally something that has been cloven.

How many meanings does “cleft” have?

“Cleft” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a narrow opening, crack, or V-shaped gap, especially in rock or in part of the body.