Clift

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A steep or vertical rock face or slope; a natural formation of exposed rock often found on mountains, coastlines, or riverbanks; a geological feature created by erosion or tectonic activity
2. A pronounced rise of solid rock standing sharply from surrounding terrain; an abrupt escarpment or precipice formed by natural processes; an elevated rocky structure visible in landscapes
3. A rugged rock formation characterized by a near-vertical drop; a natural escarpment or wall of stone shaped by weathering and environmental forces; a prominent geological landmark consisting of exposed rock layers

Etymology: "Clift" is a variant of "cliff", a form that came about through a blend of two older words. The steep rock face it names is the same thing in both spellings, and the two forms have long run side by side in English. The "cl-" spelling seems to have been pulled toward "cleft", meaning a split or crack in rock. That word shares a root with "cleave", and a cliff is in a sense a face where the land has split apart, so the crossover makes a kind of sense. Where "cliff" came from originally, and how it reached its current form, is the main part of the story here.

Synonyms: cliff, precipice, bluff, crag

Antonyms: valley, plain, flatland