Cleft , n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft cleft, Dan. klöft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.]
1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock.
Is. ii. 21.
2. A piece made
by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.
3. (Far.) A disease in
horses; a crack on the band of the pastern.
Branchial clefts. See
under Branchial.
Syn. -- Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.
Cleft , a.
1. Divided; split; partly divided or split.
2. (Bot.) Incised nearly to the
midrib; as, a cleft leaf.
Cleft (kl&ebreve;ft), imp.
& p. p. from Cleave.
Hear it pronounced