Cleft (klĕft), imp. & p.
p. from Cleave.
Cleft, a. 1.
Divided; split; partly divided or split.
2. (Bot.) Incised nearly to the
midrib; as, a cleft leaf.
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.