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Cleft: meaning, definitions and examples

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cleft

 

[ kleft ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

anatomy

A fissure or division, especially a deep split in the body tissue.

Synonyms

crevice, fissure, gap

Examples of usage

  • The cleft in the rock was so deep that it seemed to go on forever.
  • She had a cleft chin, just like her father.
  • The surgeon repaired the cleft palate in the newborn baby.
  • The cleft in the tree trunk was caused by a lightning strike.
  • The cleft in the ground revealed a hidden cave entrance.
Context #2 | Verb

grammar

To divide a sentence into two parts, typically using 'it is' or 'it was'.

Synonyms

divide, separate, split

Examples of usage

  • The sentence 'It was his birthday that he got the new bike' can be cleft into 'It was his birthday that he got the new bike.'
  • She cleft the complex sentence to make it easier to understand.

Translations

Translations of the word "cleft" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fenda

🇮🇳 दरार

🇩🇪 Spalte

🇮🇩 celah

🇺🇦 розкол

🇵🇱 rozszczep

🇯🇵 裂け目

🇫🇷 fente

🇪🇸 hendidura

🇹🇷 yarık

🇰🇷 갈라진 틈

🇸🇦 شق

🇨🇿 štěrbina

🇸🇰 štrbina

🇨🇳 裂缝

🇸🇮 razpoka

🇮🇸 sprunga

🇰🇿 жарық

🇬🇪 გახლეჩა

🇦🇿 yarıq

🇲🇽 hendidura

Etymology

The word 'cleft' has Old English origins, coming from the word 'cloof' which means a cleft or split. It has been used in various contexts throughout history, particularly in anatomy and grammar. The term 'cleft palate' is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to a congenital deformity. In grammar, cleft sentences are often used for emphasis or to highlight a particular part of a sentence.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,237, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.