cliffcliff /klɪf/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINcliff
Origin:
Old English clifEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- He could see cliffs and a distant wash of white.
- He ran off the cliff and leapt into the air.
- If her eyes had been open, she would have seen Zeno heading for the cliff path.
- 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.
- So I went across and shot one of the guys and the other chopper landed on the cliff.
- We fell asleep listening to the surf chisel away at the foot of the cliff below.
THESAURUS
a very high hill: · the highest mountain in Austria
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.
(also Mt written abbreviation) used in the names of mountains. Don’t say ‘Fuji Mountain’ – say ‘Mount Fuji’: · Mount Everest
the steep side of an area of land, often next to the sea: · the white cliffs of Dover
especially literary a very steep and dangerous cliff: · They were standing on the edge of a precipice.
a high steep rock or mountain: · An eagle sailed over the high crags.
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.
a small round hill: · a grassy knoll
a mountain with a large hole at the top, through which lava (=hot liquid rock) is sometimes forced out: · the eruption of a volcano
the very highest point of a mountain: · the summit of Mt Everest
especially literary the top of a mountain: · the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas· a distant peak
a group of mountains or hills arranged in a line: · the mountain range that is part of the border between Norway and Sweden
a group of smaller hills below a range of high mountains: · the Sierra foothills
WORD SETSabyss, nounalluvial, adjectivealluvium, nounalpine, adjectiveAmerican, adjectiveAntarctica, anticyclone, nounarchipelago, nounArctic, adjectivearid, adjectiveAsia, atlas, nounatoll, nounAustralasia, Australasian, adjectiveAustralia, avalanche, nounaxis, nounbank, nounbarometer, nounbarrier reef, nounbasin, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbearing, nounbed, nounbight, nounbluff, nounborder, nounborder, verbborderland, nounborderline, nounborough, nounbox canyon, nounBritish, adjectivebutte, nouncanyon, nouncape, nouncapital, nouncardinal point, nounCaribbean, adjectivecartography, nouncay, nounchain, nounchaparral, nounchart, nounchasm, nounchimney, nounChinese, adjectivecirrus, nounCIS, nouncliff, nounclimate, nounclimatic, adjectivecoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncockney, nouncol, nouncold front, nouncommuter belt, nouncompass, nounconfluence, nouncontinent, nouncontinental, adjectivecontinental shelf, nouncontour, nounconurbation, nouncoordinate, nouncorridor, nouncorrie, nouncoterminous, adjectivecouncil estate, nouncountry, nouncounty, nouncounty town, nouncourse, nouncove, nouncrag, nouncraggy, adjectivecreek, nouncrevasse, nouncrevice, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundateline, noundelta, noundesert, noundesert island, noundevelopment, noundistrict, noundivide, noundown, adverbdune, noundust bowl, nouneast, nouneast, adjectiveeast, adverbeastbound, adjectiveeasterly, adjectiveeasterly, nouneastern, adjectiveEasterner, nouneasternmost, adjectiveeastwards, adverbelevation, nouneminence, nounenvirons, nounequatorial, adjectiveerode, verberosion, nounescarpment, nounestuary, nounEurope, nounextraterritorial, adjectiveeyot, nounface, nounfarmland, nounfeeder, nounfiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood plain, nounfluvial, adjectivefrontier, nounfrontiersman, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungeo-, prefixgeography, noungeophysics, noungeopolitics, noungeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglaciation, nounglacier, nounglobe, noungoldfield, noungorge, noungrassland, nounGrecian, adjectivegreen belt, noungrid, noungrotto, noungroundwater, noungulch, noungulf, noungully, nounhead, nounheadland, nounheadwaters, nounheartland, nounhemisphere, nounhighland, adjectivehighlands, nounhigh water mark, nounhinterland, nounHome Counties, the, homeland, nounhurricane, noun-i, suffixIberian, adjectiveiceberg, nounice cap, nounice floe, nounice pack, nounice sheet, nouninhabitant, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninner city, nouninshore, adverbinsular, adjectiveintercontinental, adjectiveInternational Date Line, nounisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounisobar, nounIsraeli, adjectiveIsraeli, nounisthmus, nounItalian, adjectiveItalianate, adjectiveItalo-, prefixJapanese, adjectivekey, nounknoll, nounlagoon, nounlake, nounlandlocked, adjectivelandmass, nounlandslide, nounlandslip, nounlat., Latin, adjectiveLatin America, nounLatin American, adjectivelatitude, nounlevee, nounlittoral, nounlong., longitude, nounlongitudinal, adjectivelough, nounlowlands, nounlow-lying, adjectivelow water mark, nounmagnetic north, nounmagnetic pole, nounmarsh, nounmarshland, nounmeander, verbMediterranean, adjectiveMercator projection, nounmeridian, nounmesa, nounMiddle America, nounmidtown, adjectivemonsoon, nounmoorland, nounmorass, nounmountain, nounmountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudslide, nounmull, nounnarrows, nounnavigation, nounNE, neck, nounnor'-, prefixnorth, nounnorth, adjectivenorth, adverbNorth America, nounnortheast, nounnortheast, adjectivenortheasterly, adjectivenortheastern, adjectivenortheastwards, adverbnortherly, adjectivenorthern, adjectivenortherner, nounnorthernmost, adjectivenorthwards, adverbnorthwest, nounnorthwest, adjectivenorthwesterly, adjectivenorthwestern, adjectivenorthwestwards, adverbnotch, nounNW, NZ, oasis, nounoccidental, nounocean, nounonshore, adjectiveopenness, nounOrdnance Survey map, nounoriental, adjectiveoutcrop, nounoverspill, nounpack ice, nounpaddy, nounpalisade, nounpan-, prefixpanhandle, nounparallel, nounpeak, nounpeninsula, nounPersian, adjectivephysical geography, nounplain, nounplateau, nounpoint, nounpolar, adjectivepole, nounpolitical geography, nounpollutant, nounpop., populate, verbpopulation, nounprairie, nounprecipice, nounprecipitation, nounPrime Meridian, principality, nounprojection, nounpromontory, nounprovince, nounprovincial, adjectivepueblo, nounR, rainfall, nounrain forest, nounrain gauge, nounrainstorm, nounrange, nounravine, nounreef, nounreference, nounregion, nounregional, adjectiverelief map, nounreservoir, nounresettle, verbresidential, adjectiveresource, nounridge, nounrift valley, nounrise, verbriver, nounriver basin, nounriver bed, nounRoman, adjectiverotation, nounrugged, adjectiverun-off, nounrural, adjectivesand, nounsand bar, nounsandstorm, nounsandy, adjectivesavanna, nounScandinavian, nounscar, nounscarp, nounscree, nounscrubland, nounSE, seaboard, nounsea breeze, nounseafront, nounsea level, nounseaport, nounseaward, adjectivesection, nounsemitropical, adjectiveshelf, nounslough, nounsmog, nounsnowfield, nounsource, nounsouth, nounsouth, adjectivesouth, adverbSouth America, adjectivesoutheast, nounsoutheast, adjectivesoutheasterly, adjectivesoutheastern, adjectivesoutheastwards, adverbsoutherly, adjectivesouthern, adjectivesouthernmost, adjectivesouthwards, adverbsouthwest, nounsouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivesouthwestern, adjectivesouthwestwards, adverbspeleology, nounspit, nounspur, nounstrait, nounsubcontinent, nounsubtropical, adjectivesuburb, nounsuburban, adjectivesummit, nounsurvey, nounsurvey, verbSW, swamp, nountableland, nounterrain, nounterritory, nountidal, adjectivetidal wave, nountidewater, nountime zone, nountop, nountopography, nountor, nountornado, nountown, nountown centre, nountowpath, nountrack, nountract, nountrade route, nountrail, nountransatlantic, adjectivetranscontinental, adjectivetributary, nountropic, nountropical, adjectivetundra, nountyphoon, nounUK, the, uncharted, adjectiveup, adverbup-country, adjectiveuplands, nounupper, adjectiveupriver, adverbupstate, adjectiveupstream, adverbuptown, adverburban, adjectiveurbanized, adjectiveurban renewal, nounurban sprawl, nounUS, the, adjectivevalley, nounW, warm front, nounwaste, adjectivewasteland, nounwater, verbwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterfront, nounwaterhole, nounwatering place, nounwater meadow, nounwatershed, nounwater table, nounwaterway, nounweather vane, nounwest, nounwest, adjectiveWest, nounwestern, adjectiveWesterner, nounwesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwilderness, nounwolds, nounzoning, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives
We could just see the white cliff tops in the distance.
a large area of rock or a mountain with a very steep side, often at the edge of the sea or a riverCOLLOCATIONSadjectiveshigh/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 Gibraltarchalk/limestone/granite cliffs· White 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 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?phrasesbe perched (high) on a cliff (=be situated on a cliff)· An 11th century castle is perched high on the cliff.· The cliffs here are the highest in Britain.
(=sloping at a high angle)· The cliffs were steep and dangerous.
(=straight up and down rather than sloping)· Sheer cliffs defend the island.
· The birds breed mainly on sea cliffs and in sea caves.
· Here the coastal cliffs are low, jutting out into the sea.
· The forest stops where a rocky cliff falls to a saltwater lagoon.
(=with a lot of sharp rocks)· This is an area of spectacular gorges and jagged cliffs.
(=rough and uneven)· Huge Atlantic waves were breaking against the rugged cliffs.
(=very high)· the towering cliffs of Gibraltar
· White chalk cliffs rose up from the sea.
cliff + NOUN (=a steep surface or side of a cliff)· Some climbers were scrambling up the steep cliff face.
· Keep away from the cliff edge.
· There was a lovely view from the cliff top.
(=a flat narrow piece that sticks out from a cliff)· Some of the goats were even grazing on the cliff ledges.
· I followed the cliff path down to the bay.
(=a walk along cliffs)· Shall we do the cliff walk this morning?
phrases (=be situated on a cliff)· An 11th century castle is perched high on the cliff.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· From the cliff path, you get superb views out to sea.
We could just see the white cliff tops in the distance. (=one that is very high or steep) a gorge lined with vertical cliffs
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE a gorge lined with vertical cliffs· Standing on these dramatic cliffs, the legends of the area seem quite plausible.
· The coastguard duties included patrolling paths at the top of high and sheer cliffs - not a job for the faint-hearted.· The researchers were steering the tiny sub along sheer, high cliffs, the ridges that fence in the central ridge valley.· You're standing on a high cliff, chopped off and adumbrated by the heaving green of the sea.· Selvagem Grande is a plateau from which 100m high cliffs plunge into the sea.· It is close to high cliffs where leopards live and it is surrounded by trees, which make cattle-ambush easy.· From its central position perched high on the cliffs, it offers a breathtaking view across the Bay of Naples.· It speaks to me, his coat, of high cliffs and low pavement and black December skies.· She was high on the cliff, here, and the ledge was close to the darkening sky.
· And the low cliffs, covered in gum trees, were a pleasure to behold.· Beyond the pine, and a little lower on the cliff, a dozen or so bushes grew from a wide fissure.· The road, which was narrow, was separated from a low cliff by a stretch of rough grass.· The track doesn't go on to the shore, but goes along the top of some low cliffs above the beach.· The low cliffs were the key to the puzzle: we had been searching too far north.
· High rocky cliffs pitted with little sandy coves melt away into long stretches of silvery beach.· Souls straight out of Hieronymus Bosch tumble down rocky cliffs to their doom.· Seapinks and samphire grow on the rocky cliffs.· Not a waterside bird, frequenting dry country and nesting on rocky cliffs and stream banks, sometimes on ruined buildings.· All around rolled wild heather-moors, overhung by rocky cliffs.· It was perched on a rocky cliff overlooking a stone path to the sea some 40 feet below.· This Grade 2 Listed Building is set in a rocky cliff face pointing out to sea a little way along the foreshore.
· The coastguard duties included patrolling paths at the top of high and sheer cliffs - not a job for the faint-hearted.· The fourth side of the clearing was sheer cliff drop, attended by a barrier of split rails.· Teetering on the sheer cliff, Tallis peered down at the river.· But the top of Kino Peak is guarded by sheer cliffs on all sides.· It is a sheer basalt rock cliff on which thousands of razor bills, guillemots, kittiwakes, shags and fulmars nest.· Behind the narrow sandy beach stands a sheer cliff of coral rock, seventy feet high.· Walls of red brick rose up on his left like sheer cliffs.· He'd mounted, turned the animal in a circle, gazing up at the sheer, wet cliffs.
· Finally the sea encroached on this topography producing steep cliffs, inlets, sea stacks and sandy or shingly beach deposits.· Where the coast has deep water offshore a fall in base level means the formation of a vertical or very steep cliff.· Without mountain ranges, steep cliffs or rough and bumpy cross-country routes, there are seldom natural features such as corkscrew bends.· They occupy a cove with the sea and steep cliffs behind them and a sailing boat anchored to the right.
· Behind there are vertical cliffs, a dynamic backdrop dwarfing the harbour to insignificance.· No vertical cliff guards this approach, although about 50 million basalt boulders do.· At the bottom of the Grand Canyon the oldest rocks of all are exposed in a gorge lined with vertical cliffs.
· Then suddenly the white cliffs, a salty tang in the air, a few sheep and a funereal sky.· Behind it was a small white cliff, the bubble of water.
NOUN· Suddenly the back of the Morris Minor is hanging over the cliff edge.· Counting his steps, twenty paces in all, he walked to the cliff edge and halted there.· I took off my rings and jewellery and put them in my handbag then lowered myself over the cliff edge.· They follow the line of the cliff edge closely and seem curious at the presence of humans.· It nests on the ground or in caves or cliff edges.· The fairway, with the cliff edge guarding the right-hand side, forms a bowl to collect the shot.
· So beaches or cliff faces are sometimes exposed, and sometimes covered.· Great cliff faces like you see only in movies.· Apart from the odd natural cove, jagged cliff faces and outcrops of rock abound.· The dank and dismal cliff faces were hanging with squabbling bird life.· A few hundred yards away behind the site is a cliff face, down which a stream tumbles.· It occurs mostly on sheltered, well-watered cliff faces and damp coastal flats where there is local protection from wind and spray.· Also visible are the steel cables that had held it to the cliff face.· Rough hewn steps led up steeply, hugging an almost sheer cliff face.
· The black cut-out being shaped to suggest a cliff ledge.
· From Port Eynon the limestone cliffs extend for five or six miles to Worms Head.· Many feature spectacular limestone cliffs of the sort that rock climbers find irresistible.· From Flamborough Head northwards there is a stretch of spectacular limestone cliff scenery, reaching its highest point around Bempton.· Bristol is penetrated by calcium-loving vegetation growing on the limestone cliffs of the Avon Gorge.
· If her eyes had been open, she would have seen Zeno heading for the cliff path.· Brought them down here and then gone off along the cliff path with them.· I watched you make off along the cliff path, as if you were making for Otters' Bay.· It wasn't the wind that brought tears to my eyes as I turned to walk along the cliff path.· Leaving the hotel, Edward tucked her arm through his and held her close as they walked briskly along the cliff path.· Walks abound, along the coastal and cliff paths and the river, and through local woods.· That alone would have been worth the scramble round the cliff path.· North of Kessingland the route follows the cliff path to Pakefield, then on the promenade to Lowestoft.
· The pioneers here were Arthur Westlake Andrews, father of sea cliff climbing, with his sister Ethel.· The cliff on Ingólfshöfd3i is the only sea cliff for miles.· A fine position, constant exposure, and some tricky sections ensure it status as one of the greatest sea cliff classics.· Breeds mainly on sea cliffs or marine islands, more rarely on flat shores and inland.
· Eventually I reached the cliff top.· Finally, helped by a rope suspended from the cliff top, we found ourselves on the central plateau.· Here, for many miles, lush green, seemingly flat, fields covered the cliff tops.· In the terrible battle that followed many Dark Elves were driven howling with hatred and fear off the cliff tops.· Situated on a cliff top above the harbour, the complex also includes the Casino and a luxurious air-conditioned cinema.· Our path dropped down to the relative calm of the sea shore, edging craggy inlets beneath overhanging cliff tops.· Puffins zoomed around, skimming the cliff top, wheeling in great circles.· On the cliff top, marsh orchids, pink and lush, clustered in damp hollows.
VERB· Many people come to make the ascent, some to climb its tremendous cliffs, others merely to look at it.· Then, after rubbing themselves dry on the bath robe, they dressed and climbed the cliff again.· So he climbed down the cliffs, undressed on the beach and jumped into the sea.· In 24 hours, night-time included, we were expected to climb on five different cliffs in three different ranges.
· It was true, it had the feel of truth: the woman hadn't just fallen over a cliff.· The spring, where seekers poured water over their heads to purify themselves, falls from the cliff below the horns.· Again he heard the distant crash as it fell over the cliff.· He believes Ruess probably died in a flash flood or fell off a cliff.· They are the victims of auto accidents, industrial accidents, falls from cliffs, fires, fights, stabbings, shootings.
· The fine for jumping cliffs at Zion National Park was more than $ 1, 000.· They then forced two girls to jump over a cliff, after which they fired their guns on them.· It was like waiting to jump off a cliff - and then, not jumping.
· Vultures nested in the cliffs and circled in slow spirals above the camp.· Not a waterside bird, frequenting dry country and nesting on rocky cliffs and stream banks, sometimes on ruined buildings.· House Martins have been recorded nesting on the cliffs occasionally.
· From its central position perched high on the cliffs, it offers a breathtaking view across the Bay of Naples.· It was perched on a rocky cliff overlooking a stone path to the sea some 40 feet below.
· You're standing on a high cliff, chopped off and adumbrated by the heaving green of the sea.· From where I stood on the cliff, it must have been close to six hundred feet down.· Behind the narrow sandy beach stands a sheer cliff of coral rock, seventy feet high.· We stood on the cliff top to welcome them, swallows and house martins, meadow pipits and skylarks.
· A Cornish Coastal Footpath has been opened to give the public access to walk along the cliffs.· Counting his steps, twenty paces in all, he walked to the cliff edge and halted there.· It wasn't the wind that brought tears to my eyes as I turned to walk along the cliff path.· On this side of the street, where he was walking, was a cliff of elegant apartment houses overlooking the museum.· Leaving the hotel, Edward tucked her arm through his and held her close as they walked briskly along the cliff path.· She would go off alone for long walks over the cliffs - something she had never done before in winter.· Together, with Roman's arm like an iron band round her shoulders, they began to walk, towards the cliffs.· They walked daily on the cliffs and shore.