Pronunciation: /klɛft/

Definitions of cleft

noun a split or division between two things

Example Sentences

A1 She had a small cleft in her chin.

A2 The cleft in the rock provided shelter from the rain.

B1 The doctor recommended surgery to repair the cleft lip.

B2 The cleft between the two political parties seemed impossible to bridge.

C1 The geologist studied the cleft in the earth's crust to understand its formation.

C2 The cleft in the relationship between the two countries deepened with each disagreement.

adjective split or divided

Example Sentences

A1 The cleft rock provided shelter for the hikers.

A2 She noticed a cleft branch in the path and stepped over it.

B1 The cleft lip surgery was successful, and the baby could now smile without hindrance.

B2 The cleft palate affected his speech, but with therapy, he improved.

C1 The cleft between the two political parties seemed impossible to bridge.

C2 The cleft in the relationship was deep, but they were determined to work through it.

Examples of cleft in a Sentence

formal The geologist studied the cleft in the rock formation.

informal I found a cleft in the wall where we can hide the treasure.

slang There's a cleft in the fence where we can sneak through.

figurative The cleft in their relationship seemed impossible to mend.

Grammatical Forms of cleft

past tense

cleft

plural

clefts

comparative

more cleft

superlative

most cleft

present tense

cleave

future tense

will cleave

perfect tense

have cleft

continuous tense

is cleaving

singular

cleft

positive degree

cleft

infinitive

to cleave

gerund

cleaving

participle

cleaved

Origin and Evolution of cleft

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'cleft' originated from Old English 'cleft' or 'clift', which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'kluftaz' meaning a split or separation.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cleft' has evolved to refer to a narrow opening or crack in a surface, especially in rocks or wood. It is also used in anatomy to describe a split or division, such as a cleft lip or cleft palate.