Cleft (kl&ebreve;ft), imp. & p. p. from Cleave.

Cleft, a. 1. Divided; split; partly divided or split.

2. (Bot.) Incised nearly to the midrib; as, a cleft leaf.

Cleft, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft cleft, Dan. klöft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.] 1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. Is. ii. 21.

2. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.

3. (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern.

Syn. -- Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.

• past participle of to cleave