imp. & p. p. from Cleave.
- adj. Divided; split; partly divided or split.
- (Bot.) Incised nearly to the midrib; as, a cleft leaf.
- n. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.
- (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern. Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.
Syn. - Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.