Crevice: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a narrow and small opening, usually in rocks or walls.

• The lizard hid in the crevice of the stone wall.
• Tiny plants grew in the crevice between the stones.

Commonly used to indicate a narrow opening or line on the surface of something, implying a start of a break or fracture, can be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

• There's a crack in the vase.
• The scandal showed a crack in their friendship.

Often used in geology and biology to describe a natural division or split, can be used metaphorically.

• He has a distinctive cleft chin.
• A deep cleft formed in the rock after the earthquake.

Specifically used to describe a deep, open crack, especially one in a glacier or ice sheet. This term is more dramatic and less common in everyday language.

• The mountaineers carefully crossed the icy crevasse.
• Falling into a crevasse can be extremely dangerous.

Use 'crevice' to describe a small, narrow crack or opening, often found in rocks or other hard surfaces.

• The lizard disappeared into a crevice in the cliff.
• Dust had gathered in every crevice of the old, abandoned house.

Often describes a serious break or disagreement in relationships or organizations.

• A rift developed between the two friends after the argument.
• The rift within the political party is becoming evident.

Commonly used for a physical separation or to describe dividing something into parts.

• We need to split the cake evenly among the children.
• The group decided to split into two teams.

Generally used to indicate the action of separating something into parts or the state of being separated.

• The division of the company into smaller units was necessary for efficiency.
• There is a clear division of responsibilities among the team members.