cliff

Everyday

1. A cliff is a high, steep wall of rock or earth, often at the edge of the sea. tree →
2. A cliffhanger is a story or episode that ends at an exciting moment so you want to know what happens next. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons cliffs are formed by erosion as waves wear the rock away; in safety lessons you stay away from cliff edges, which can crumble. Phrases: «the edge of the cliff», «cliff top», «chalk cliffs», «cliff path», «cliffhanger».

Examples

• The White Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk. tree →
• Stay away from the edge of the cliff. tree →
• Seabirds nest on the cliffs. tree →
• We walked along the cliff path. tree →
• The waves crash against the cliffs. tree →
• The book ended on a cliffhanger. tree →
• The cliff edge was crumbling, so they put up a fence. tree →
• The Goat looked over the edge of the cliff. tree →

Note

Countable. Double f. Safety: cliff edges can give way without warning, and the bottom can be cut off by the tide; keep behind fences and check tide times on beaches under cliffs.

In Jewish tradition

In the Song of Songs it is a rocky hiding place, where the beloved dove is hidden.

Interpretation. The tradition reads the Song as a love story between God and Israel, so the dove in the rock is Israel, whom God longs to see and hear in prayer.

Examples

• O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.' (Writings SNG.2.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Double f. Safety: cliff edges can give way without warning, and the bottom can be cut off by the tide; keep behind fences and check tide times on beaches under cliffs.