I. ˈklif noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English clif, from Old English; akin to Old Saxon klif, Old High German klep, Old Norse klif, Old English clīfan, clifian to adhere to — more at cleave
1. : a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging face of rock, earth, or glacial ice of considerable height : precipice — see fault-line scarp , fault scarp , scarp ; compare escarpment
2. Britain : a steep slope or hill : cleve
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to erode so as to form a cliff
the shores of both mainland and continental islands are cliffed and drowned — Journal of Geology
postglacial cliffing — F.P.Shepard