cliff

¹

[ klif ]

noun

1. a high steep face of a rock.

   Synonyms: crag, ledge, promontory, bluff

2. a critical point or situation beyond which something bad or undesirable may occur:

   The committee is right up to the cliff with no deal in sight.

Cliff

²

[ klif ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Clifford or Clifton.

cliff

/ klɪf /

noun

1. a steep high rock face, esp one that runs along the seashore and has the strata exposed

Derived Forms

• ˈcliffy, adjective

Other Words From

• clifflike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cliff¹

before 900; Middle English clif, Old English, cognate with Dutch, Low German, Old Norse klif

Word History and Origins

Origin of cliff¹

Old English clif; related to Old Norse kleif, Middle Low German klēf, Dutch klif; see cleave ²

Example Sentences

Hastings is surrounded by the High Weald, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and situated among cliffs on the Sussex coast.

From BBC

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has closed a number of outdoor recreation sites and warned the public not to walk along cliff paths, harbour piers, forest or woodland park areas during this period.

From BBC

Authorities launched a search for a missing person Monday afternoon after learning that a car had tumbled hundreds of feet down a steep cliff near Point Mugu two days earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

“I started with was photographs, pictures from books of Welsh landscapes, natural landscapes, coastline, cliffs and photographs of industrial relics,” said Mr Adams.

From BBC

Experts from National Museums Scotland and universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh re-evaluated fossils collected from the area of limestone cliffs in Assynt.

From BBC

Related Words

• bluff
• crag
• precipice
• wall