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1. A gap between cloud masses
   "the sun shone through a rift in the clouds"
    
2. A narrow fissure in rock
    
3. A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
   "they hoped to avoid a rift in relations"
   - rupture, breach, break, severance, falling out

1. Split apart

Derived forms: rifted, rifting, rifts

Type of: breakup, cleft, crack, crevice, detachment, fissure, gap, opening, scissure, separation

Encyclopedia: Rift