"cleft" in the noun sense
1. cleft
a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)
2. crack, cleft, crevice, fissure, scissure
a long narrow opening
"cleft" in the verb sense
1. cleave, split, rive
separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
"cleave the bone"
2. cleave
make by cutting into
"The water is going to cleave a channel into the rock"
3. cling, cleave, adhere, stick, cohere
come or be in close contact with stick or hold together and resist separation
"The dress clings to her body"
"The label stuck to the box"
"The sushi rice grains cohere"
"cleft" in the adjective sense
1. cleft
split or divided
"he had a cleft chin and strong jaw"
"the infant was born with a double harelip and cleft palate"
"a cleft stick"
2. cleft, dissected
having one or more indentations reaching nearly to the midrib
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.
View WordNet® License