cleft

1 of 2

noun

ˈkleft 

1

: a space or opening made by or as if by splitting : fissure

2

: a usually V-shaped indented formation : a hollow between ridges or protuberances

the anal cleft of the human body

cleft

2 of 2

adjective

: partially split or divided

specifically : divided about halfway to the midrib

a cleft leaf

Synonyms

Noun

• check
• chink
• crack
• cranny
• crevice
• fissure
• rift
• split

Examples of cleft in a Sentence

Noun

The river begins as a trickle of water from a cleft in the rock.

He has a distinctive cleft in his chin.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This bacteria is commonly carried in the nostrils, between the legs, in the armpits, and in the cleft between the buttocks. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024

And a deep cleft, like something left by a hatchet, above the bridge of my nose. —Forrest Gander, The New York Review of Books, 12 Sep. 2024

Adjective

When spaces are left between the arches, certain branchial anomalies like branchial cleft cysts can develop. —Ani Freedman, Fortune Well, 16 Oct. 2024

Primary’s Johns said such critiques ignore the psychosocial issues children with cleft deal with. —Megan Rose, ProPublica, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English clift, from Old English geclyft; akin to Old English clēofan to cleave

Adjective

Middle English, from past participle of cleven

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleft

• cleft lip
• cleft palate
• gill cleft

Kids Definition

cleft

1 of 2 noun

ˈkleft 

1

: a space or opening made by splitting : crevice

2

: a hollow resembling a cleft

cleft

2 of 2 adjective

: partially split or divided

a cleft wood

Medical Definition

cleft

noun

ˈkleft 

1

: a usually abnormal fissure or opening especially when resulting from failure of parts to fuse during embryonic development

2

: a usually V-shaped indented formation : a hollow between ridges or protuberances

the anal cleft of the human body

3

: the hollow space between the two branches of the frog or the frog and bars or between the bulbs of the heel of a horse's hoof

4

: a crack on the bend of the pastern of a horse

5

: a division of the cleft foot of an animal

6

: synaptic cleft