cliff

cliff

noun \ˈklif\

Definition of CLIFF

: a very steep, vertical, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or ice : precipice

— cliffy \ˈkli-fē\ adjective

Examples of CLIFF

1. Standing at the edge of the cliff, we watched the waves crash on the shore far below.
2. rock climbers scaling steep cliffs

Origin of CLIFF

Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old High German klep cliff, Old Norse klif

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to CLIFF

Synonyms: barranca (also barranco), bluff, crag, escarpment, palisade, precipice, scar, scarp

Related Words: butte, cuesta, hogback, tor; bulwark, embankment; declivity, drop-off, pitch

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Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with CLIFF

biff, diff, glyph, if, iff, jiff, miff, quiff, riff, skiff, sniff, spiff, spliff, stiff, syph, tiff, whiff