crevice

noun crev·ice \ ˈkre-vəs \

Updated on: 16 Nov 2017

Definition of crevice

: a narrow opening resulting from a split or crack (as in a cliff) : fissure

A lizard emerged from a crevice in the cliff …
—Tony Hillerman

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Examples of crevice in a Sentence

steam escaped from a long crevice in the volcano

Recent Examples of crevice from the Web

The decibels growing louder and louder, until the joyful noise of Michigan State’s basketball team reverberated in every crevice of the practice gym.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State's practice a stark contrast to state of college hoops," 29 Sep. 2017
The flavor of pumpkin, once mostly reserved for pies and produce, has recently crept into every imaginable crevice of American cuisine.

— anne vandermey, Fortune, "No, We Haven’t Gone Overboard With the Pumpkin Spice Flavor," 27 Sep. 2017
Their relatively flat bodies allow them to fit into tight crevices, so be sure to check under buttons and at the seams of the furniture.

— meredith carey, CNT, "How to Spot Bed Bugs in Your Hotel Room," 25 Sep. 2017
Portions of the white walls in the family room had been painted blue, but Marks found some spatter on trim of windows and doors and in crevices where the walls hadn't been painted.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Blood spatter shows sequence of events, expert testifies at Thomas Snow murder trial," 3 Nov. 2017
Indeed, the octopus has formidable and far-reaching tentacles that reach into every crevice of modern American life.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "The Progressive Octopus," 26 Sep. 2017
When the rolls emerged, the frosting went straight on, melting a bit into the cracks and crevices.

— maya wilson, Alaska Dispatch News, "Say hello to fall with a batch of frosted pumpkin cinnamon rolls," 15 Sep. 2017
With his hangdog, morose visage and faced etched with crevices, Stanton was known for playing characters of innate sadness or darkness.

— chris malone, Billboard, "Harry Dean Stanton, Quintessential American Actor, Dies at 91," 15 Sep. 2017
Clean Mama hack: a toothpick helps to get into hard-to-reach cracks and crevices.

— alyse whitney, Bon Appetit, "The 7-Day Kitchen Cleaning Plan That You Can Actually Manage," 3 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crevice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of crevice

Middle English, from Anglo-French crevace, from crever to break, from Latin crepare to crack

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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crevice Synonyms

Synonyms

check, chink, cleft, cranny, crack, fissure, rift, split

Related Words

crevasse; craze, hairline; fracture, rupture; breach, gap, opening; cut, gash, incision, slit

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

CREVICE Defined for English Language Learners

crevice

noun

Definition of crevice for English Language Learners

: a narrow opening or crack in a hard surface and especially in rock

CREVICE Defined for Kids

crevice

noun crev·ice \ ˈkre-vəs \

Definition of crevice for Students

: a narrow opening (as in the earth) caused by cracking or splitting : fissure

Medical Dictionary

crevice

noun crev·ice \ ˈkrev-əs \

medical Definition of crevice

: a narrow fissure or cleft

an ulcerated periodontal crevice

— see gingival crevice

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Origin and Etymology of crevice

crevice Synonyms

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CREVICE Defined for English Language Learners

crevice

Definition of crevice for English Language Learners

CREVICE Defined for Kids

crevice

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crevice

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