rift

[ rift ]

noun

1. an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.; fissure; cleft; chink.
2. an open space, as in a forest or cloud mass, or a clear interval.
3. a break in friendly relations:

   a rift between two people; a rift between two nations.

   Synonyms: estrangement, falling-out, rupture, breach

4. a difference in opinion, belief, or interest that causes such a break in friendly relations.
5. Geology.
   1. a fault.
   2. a graben of regional extent.
6. the plane or direction along which a log or mass of granite can most easily be split.
7. wood or a piece of wood that has been split radially from a log.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to burst open; split.

rift

¹

/ rɪft /

noun

1. a shallow or rocky part in a stream
2. the backwash from a wave that has just broken

rift

²

/ rɪft /

noun

1. a gap or space made by cleaving or splitting; fissure
2. geology a long narrow zone of faulting resulting from tensional stress in the earth's crust
3. a gap between two cloud masses; break or chink

   he saw the sun through a rift in the clouds

4. a break in friendly relations between people, nations, etc

verb

1. to burst or cause to burst open; split

rift

/ rĭft /

1. A continental rift.
2. A narrow break, crack, or other opening in a rock, usually made by cracking or splitting.

Other Words From

• riftless adjective
• un·rifted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rift¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old Norse ript breaking of an agreement (compare Danish, Norwegian rift cleavage), derivative of rīfa to tear (cognate with rive )

Word History and Origins

Origin of rift¹

C14: from Old Norse rypta ; related to Icelandic ropa to belch

Origin of rift²

C13: from Old Norse; related to Danish rift cleft, Icelandic ript breach of contract

Related Words

• breach
• clash
• disagreement
• division
• estrangement
• misunderstanding
• quarrel
• rupture
• schism
• split