Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Split or divided: Having a space or division, often created by splitting or separating.
   • Partially separated: Having a narrow opening or indentation, as if split.

2. Noun:

   • A narrow opening or fissure: A long, thin space or crack in a solid object, often formed by splitting.
   • A natural indentation: A split or indentation in a part of the body, such as the chin or palate.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The hiker found a cleft rock formation.
  • She has a distinctly cleft chin.

• Noun:

  • Water trickled through a cleft in the stone.
  • The surgeon repaired the baby's cleft palate.

Advanced Usage

• "in a cleft stick": In a difficult situation with two equally unpleasant choices; a dilemma.
  • The new regulations put the company in a cleft stick: comply at great cost or face heavy fines.

Variants and Related Words

• Cleft palate (noun phrase): A congenital split in the roof of the mouth.
• Cleave (verb): To split or sever, especially along a natural line. (Note: 'Cleft' is the past tense and past participle of 'cleave' in one of its meanings.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Split, divided, cloven, fissured.
• Noun: Fissure, crack, crevice, split, indentation.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word is primarily a noun and adjective; it does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "in a cleft stick": As described in Advanced Usage.

Adjective

1. having one or more incisions reaching nearly to the midrib

Noun

1. a long narrow opening
2. a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)