Definition Synonyms
Definition of cleft - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
rock fissurenarrow opening in rock or ground
- The explorer found a cleft in the mountain.
2.
medicalTECH. opening or gap between body partsTECH.
- The cleft in his chin added character to his smile..
3.
horse diseaseTECH. disease causing cracks in horse's pasternTECH.
- The vet treated the horse's cleft.
Adjective
1.
divisionsplit or divided in two
- The cleft rock stood imposingly at the trail's start..
2.
plantTECH. having deep indentations reaching nearly to the midribTECH.
- The plant has cleft leaves that are easy to identify.
3.
medicalRare having a noticeable indentation or lineRare
- He is known for his cleft chin.
Images of cleft

narrow opening in rock or ground
Expressions with cleft
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chin with a visible central dimple
He has a cleft chin like his father.
congenital split in the upper lip
The baby was born with a cleft lip.
birth defect with a split in the roof of the mouth
The baby was diagnosed with a cleft palate shortly after birth..
complex sentence emphasizing a specific part
A cleft sentence highlights the important part of a statement.
birth defect with incomplete spine closure
The doctor explained the implications of a cleft spine.
groove between the buttocks running from sacrum to perineum
The doctor examined the gluteal cleft for any signs of infection.
the groove between the buttocks
The intergluteal cleft can sometimes be prone to irritation.
small gap between neurons for neurotransmitter transfer
Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft to transmit signals.
caught in a difficult situation with no good options
She felt in a cleft stick about the decision.
Origin of cleft
Old English, cleofan (to split)
Terms with cleft included in their meaning
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facial feature
chin with a noticeable cleft or indentation
surface
crack or cleft in a surface
plant
deeply cleft or divided almost to the base
flags
long narrow flag with a cleft end
structure
split into two parts by a cleft
biology
divided into two lobes by a median cleft
birth defect
cleft lip present at birth
medical
presence of a cleft or doubled tongue
terminology
outdated term for cleft lip
medical
having a congenital cleft in the upper lip
dental appliance
prosthesis for closing openings like cleft palates
medical
cleft between two symmetrical parts
medical
longitudinal cleft or fissure
Examples of cleft in a sentence
The climber wedged his foot into a cleft for support. The surgeon carefully examined the cleft in the patient's palate. The cleft worsened despite the treatment. A cleft in the horse's hoof can be serious. The cleft tree looked eerie in the moonlight. A cleft boulder blocked the narrow path.
The cleft petals gave the flower a unique appearance. Gardeners often admire the cleft foliage of this species. Her cleft palate required surgery. The sculpture had a cleft surface.
View all translations of cleft
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:fissure, fendu, ...
- German:Kluft, gespalten, ...
- Italian:fenditura, diviso, ...
- Spanish:grieta, hendido, ...
- Portuguese:fenda, dividido, ...
- Chinese:裂缝, 裂开的, ...
- Japanese:裂け目, 裂けた, ...
- Arabic:شَقّ, مَشْقُوق, ...
- Hebrew:סֶדֶק, בָּקוּעַ, ...
- Russian:щель, разделенный, ...
- Ukrainian:щілина, розщеплений, ...
- Hindi:दरार, विभाजित, ...
Definition of cleave - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
split aparttr. split or sever something along a natural linetr.
- He used an axe to cleave the log in two..
2.
loyaltyintr. Dated adhere or cling firmly to somethingintr. Dated
- She cleaved to her beliefs despite criticism.
3.
traversetr. penetrate or move through somethingtr.
- The ship cleaved the icy waters.
Noun
1.
separationdivision or split in something
- The cleave in the rock was deep.
2.
technologyTECH. flat surface created by splittingTECH.
- The cleave of the crystal was perfectly smooth.
Images of cleave

flat surface created by splitting
Expressions with cleave
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
cut away or separate from a whole
He used a knife to cleave off a piece of meat.
make a path by cutting or forcing through something
The explorers cleave a way through the thick jungle.
stay very close or loyal to someone or something
She will always cleave to her family.
Origin of cleave
Old English, cleofan (to split)
Examples of cleave in a sentence
The warrior's sword cleaved through the air. He cleaved to his family traditions. They cleave to their principles no matter what. The skier cleaved through fresh powder. Sunlight cleaved the fog over the valley. The cleave between the two factions was irreparable.
A cleave appeared in the ice after the storm. The gem's cleave revealed its inner beauty. A precise cleave is crucial in semiconductor manufacturing.
View all translations of cleave
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:fendre, fissure, ...
- German:spalten, Riss, ...
- Italian:spaccare, spaccatura, ...
- Spanish:hender, grieta, ...
- Portuguese:fender, fenda, ...
- Chinese:劈开, 裂缝, ...
- Japanese:割る, 裂け目, ...
- Arabic:شَقَّ, شَقّ, ...
- Hebrew:לְבַקֵּעַ, בְּקִיעַ, ...
- Russian:разрубить, раскол, ...
- Ukrainian:розколоти, розкол, ...
- Hindi:फाड़ना, दरार, ...
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