cliff
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++cliff /klɪf/ ●●○ noun [countable] DNa large area of rock or a mountain with a very steep side, often at the edge of the sea or a river 〔常指海边的〕悬崖，峭壁 →4 See picture on 见图 Page A4 Country 乡间n COLLOCATIONSadjectiveshigh/lowThe cliffs here are the highest in Britain.steep (=sloping at a high angle)The cliffs were steep and dangerous.a sheer/vertical cliff (=straight up and down rather than sloping)Sheer cliffs defend the island.a sea cliffThe birds breed mainly on sea cliffs and in sea caves.a coastal cliffHere the coastal cliffs are low, jutting out into the sea.a rocky cliffThe forest stops where a rocky cliff falls to a saltwater lagoon.a craggy/jagged cliff (=with a lot of sharp rocks)This is an area of spectacular gorges and jagged cliffs.a rugged cliff (=rough and uneven)Huge Atlantic waves were breaking against the rugged cliffs.a towering cliff (=very high)the towering cliffs of Gibraltarchalk/limestone/granite cliffsWhite chalk cliffs rose up from the sea.cliff + NOUNa cliff face (=a steep surface or side of a cliff)Some climbers were scrambling up the steep cliff face.a cliff edgeKeep away from the cliff edge.a cliff topThere was a lovely view from the cliff top.a cliff ledge (=a flat narrow piece that sticks out from a cliff)Some of the goats were even grazing on the cliff ledges.a cliff pathI followed the cliff path down to the bay.a cliff walk (=a walk along cliffs)Shall we do the cliff walk this morning?phrasesbe perched (high) on a cliff (=be situated on a cliff)An 11th century castle is perched high on the cliff.
Examples from the Corpus
cliff• It has bushy cliffs on both sides that lean like hairy ghosts over the unknown waters.• Just before he and the camera take a dig over like a thirty foot cliff.• Maritime cliff Armeria maritima - Ligusticum scoticum maritime rock crevice community.• He could see cliffs and a distant wash of white.• If her eyes had been open, she would have seen Zeno heading for the cliff path.• We fell asleep listening to the surf chisel away at the foot of the cliff below.• He ran off the cliff and leapt into the air.• So I went across and shot one of the guys and the other chopper landed on the cliff.nCliff nan informal name for Cliff RichardOrigin cliff Old English clifcliff noun →n COLLOCATIONS1CliffLDOCE OnlineChinese
Corpus a of with area a rock or large a mountain
cliff
cliff /klɪf/
noun [countable]
■ adjectives
▪high/low The cliffs here are the highest in Britain.
▪steep (=sloping at a high angle) The cliffs were steep and dangerous.
▪a sheer/vertical cliff (=straight up and down rather than sloping) Sheer cliffs defend the island.
▪a sea cliff The birds breed mainly on sea cliffs and in sea caves.
▪a coastal cliff Here the coastal cliffs are low, jutting out into the sea.
▪a rocky cliff The forest stops where a rocky cliff falls to a saltwater lagoon.
▪a craggy/jagged cliff (=with a lot of sharp rocks) This is an area of spectacular gorges and jagged cliffs.
▪a rugged cliff (=rough and uneven) Huge Atlantic waves were breaking against the rugged cliffs.
▪a towering cliff (=very high) the towering cliffs of Gibraltar
▪chalk/limestone/granite cliffs White chalk cliffs rose up from the sea.
■ cliff + NOUN
▪a cliff face (=a steep surface or side of a cliff) Some climbers were scrambling up the steep cliff face.
▪a cliff edge Keep away from the cliff edge.
▪a cliff top There was a lovely view from the cliff top.
▪a cliff ledge (=a flat narrow piece that sticks out from a cliff) Some of the goats were even grazing on the cliff ledges.
▪a cliff path I followed the cliff path down to the bay.
▪a cliff walk (=a walk along cliffs) Shall we do the cliff walk this morning?
■ phrases
▪be perched (high) on a cliff (=be situated on a cliff) An 11th century castle is perched high on the cliff.
▪ mountain a very high hill: the highest mountain in Austria
▪hill an area of land that is higher than the land around it, which is like a mountain but smaller and usually has a rounded top: We went for a walk in the hills. | The house is surrounded by woods, farmland and gentle hills.
▪Mount (also Mt written abbreviation) used in the names of mountains. Don’t say ‘Fuji Mountain’ – say ‘Mount Fuji’: Mount Everest
▪cliff the steep side of an area of land, often next to the sea: the white cliffs of Dover
▪precipice especially literary a very steep and dangerous cliff: They were standing on the edge of a precipice.
▪crag a high steep rock or mountain: An eagle sailed over the high crags.
▪ridge a long narrow area of high ground, especially at the top of a mountain: I could see a group of climbers high up on a ridge.
▪knoll a small round hill: a grassy knoll
▪volcano a mountain with a large hole at the top, through which lava (=hot liquid rock) is sometimes forced out: the eruption of a volcano
▪summit the very highest point of a mountain: the summit of Mt Everest
▪peak especially literary the top of a mountain: the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas | a distant peak
▪range/chain a group of mountains or hills arranged in a line: the mountain range that is part of the border between Norway and Sweden
▪foothills a group of smaller hills below a range of high mountains: the Sierra foothills
cliff /klɪf/
noun [countable] Language: Old English
Origin: clif
a large area of rock or a mountain with a very steep side, often at the edge of the sea or a riverOrigin: clif
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Cliff
Cliff
an informal name for Cliff Richard
Cliff, Jimmy
(1948–) a Jamaican singer and songwriter of reggae music, known especially for his song The Harder They Come and for appearing in the film of the same name
| I |
an informal name for Cliff Richard
| II |
(1948–) a Jamaican singer and songwriter of reggae music, known especially for his song The Harder They Come and for appearing in the film of the same name
