To split or divide something, usually along a natural line or grain.
He cleft the wood with an axe.
The butcher skillfully cleft the meat in preparation for the stew.
To open or pass through something forcefully, as if splitting it.
The ship cleft the waves as it sped onward.
The wedge cleft a path through the solid rock, much to everyone's surprise.
cleftadjective
Split or divided; partially divided into two.
The tree had a cleft trunk.
She was born with a cleft palate, which needed surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
The word "cleft" in English means: A crack or split in something, especially in rock or the ground., A space or indentation formed by a division; a partial split..
The phonetic transcription of "cleft" is /kleft/ in British English and /klɛft/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.
Synonyms for "cleft": split, divide, crack, crevice, fissure, groove, gap.
Example usage of "cleft": "I saw a small cleft in the rock.". More examples on the page.