Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Origin: From a Scandinavian language

rift

 noun
     
Related topics: Nature, Geology
rift [countable]
1 a situation in which two people or groups have had a serious disagreement and begun to dislike and not trust each other [= split]
rift between/with
Party officials have denied that there is any rift between ministers.
rift over
Today's announcement could lead to a further rift over public spending.
He set out to heal the rifts in the party.
2DN a crack or narrow opening in a large mass of rock, cloud etc
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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