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.
4.
a difference in opinion, belief, or interest that causes such a break in friendly relations.
5.
Geology.
a.
a fault.
b.
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 object), verb (used without object)
8.
to burst open; split.
00:10
Rift is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English < Old Norse ript breaking of an agreement (compare Danish, Norwegian rift cleavage), derivative of rīfa to tear (cognate with rive)

Related forms
rift·less, adjective
un·rift·ed, adjective

Can be confused: riff, rift.

Synonyms
3. breach, rupture, estrangement, falling-out.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To rift
Collins
World English Dictionary
rift1 (rɪft) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
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
 
—vb
5.  to burst or cause to burst open; split
 
[C13: from Old Norse; related to Danish rift cleft, Icelandic ript breach of contract]

rift2 (rɪft) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  a shallow or rocky part in a stream
2.  the backwash from a wave that has just broken
 
[C14: from Old Norse rypta; related to Icelandic ropa to belch]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rift
c.1300, from a Scand. source (cf. Dan., Norw. rift "a cleft," O.Icel. ript (pronounced "rift") "breach;" related to O.N. ripa "to break a contract" (see riven).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
rift   (rĭft)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A continental rift.

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


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

riffed definition


  1. mod.
    alcohol or drug intoxicated. : I can't keep getting riffed every night like this.
  2. mod.
    and rift. fired; released from employment. (From rif,“reduction in force.” A dismissal not for cause, but simply to reduce the number of workers.) : Most of the sales force was rift last week.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Two trends show the increasing rift between companies and the tax authorities.
High on the agenda: repairing the rift between rich and poor countries over
  farm subsidies.
But behind the scenes a rift is opening up in her coalition.
The small lake sits in the slightly elongate rift area where the eruption
  occurred.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT