/ rɪft; NAmE / noun
1.
a serious disagreement between people that stops their relationship from continuing
SYN breach , division :
The rift within the party deepened.
Efforts to heal the rift between the two countries have failed.
2.
a large crack or opening in the ground, rocks or clouds
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian and Danish rift cleft, chink.