cliff

See also: Cliff

English
A cliff is a vertical or near vertical rock face

Pronunciation
  • enPR: klĭf, IPA(key): /klɪf/, [kl̥ʰɪf]
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪf

Etymology 1

From Middle English clyf, from Old English clif, from Proto-Germanic *klibą.

Noun

cliff (plural cliffs)

  1. A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.
    Synonym: precipice
    Hyponym: escarpment
    Coordinate term: bluff
  2. (figurative) A point beyond which something abruptly fails or decreases in value, performance, etc.
Derived terms
Translations

Noun

cliff (plural cliffs)

  1. (music) Obsolete form of clef.
    • 1723, John Harris, Lexicon Technicum:
      Suppose a Person hath learnt to sing in the Treble Cliff only, and would sing Notes prick'd in the Tenor Cliff on the middle tine with F# […]

Further reading

Welsh

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kliːf/

Noun

cliff m (plural cliffiau)

  1. (music) Obsolete form of cleff.

Mutation
Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
cliff gliff nghliff chliff
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References
  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “cleff”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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