cleft palate see under palate

in a cleft stick (figurative)

1. In a difficult situation
2. In a dilemma

palate /palˈit or -ət/

1. The roof of the mouth, consisting of the hard palate in front and the soft palate behind
2. The prominent part of the lower lip that closes the tube of a personate corolla (botany)
3. Sense of taste
4. Relish
5. Mental liking
6. Ability to appreciate the finer qualities of wine, etc (also figurative)

To taste, to relish

palatabilˈity noun

palˈatable adjective

1. Pleasant to the taste
2. Acceptable to the mind or feelings

palˈatableness noun

palˈatably adverb

palˈatal adjective

1. Relating to the palate
2. Uttered by bringing the tongue to or near the hard palate (phonetics)

A sound so produced

palatalizāˈtion or palatalisāˈtion noun

palˈatalize or palˈatalise transitive verb

To make palatal

palˈatine adjective

Relating to the palate

A paired bone forming part of the roof of the mouth

palˈatō-alvēˈolar (or /-ōlˈ/) adjective (phonetics)

Produced by bringing the tongue to a position at or close to the hard palate and the roots of the upper teeth

cleft palate

A congenital defect of the palate, leaving a longitudinal fissure in the roof of the mouth