Yvne
What's the difference among gap, crevice, rip, fracture, breach and cleft? I can't distinguish those words, they seem like with the same meaning to me (⊙o⊙)
4 jan. 2018 10:06
Opmerkingen · 6
4

'Gap'  is a general word referring to the separation or distance between two things ;  all the other words are specialised for a particular use.

A 'crevice' is a gap in a rock formation.

Rip, fracture, breach and cleft all refer to breaking something apart, and its result.

An item of clothing, or a piece of fabric, the sail of a boat, for example, can be ripped.  The initials RIP sometimes found on tombs are an abbreviation for 'Rest in Peace'.

A bone can be fractured [broken] in an accident ;  'fractured' is also used in a general sense to mean 'broken up'.

A 'breach of the rules' , or a 'breach of etiquette' refers to occasions when rules, regulations, customs and habits are not followed.  The word may be used in a legal context :  'a breach of [his] rights'.

'Cleft' is the past form of an archaic word - 'to cleave [apart] - break or separate.  A 'cleft palate' is a congenital condition resulting in severe facial disfigurement which can be corrected by surgery.

4 januari 2018
2

I think you've found this list because you translated.

You can do an image search for each word - that will show you the difference more clearly than an explanation.

4 januari 2018
1
<ul class="list-inline text-light-gray no-margin-b"><li>Thank you very much <a ui-sref="user({id:comment.commenter_obj.id})" href="https://www.italki.com/user/1478711">Su.Ki.</a>! I've also been entangled with "among" and "with". In my mind, things above two should use "among". Really  thank your for correcting it for me! I've learned a lot!</li><li>
</li></ul>
5 januari 2018
1

Yvonne, you've had two very helpful answers from Peachey and Adrian, but can I just add one thing?

Your question should read "What's the difference between gap, crevice, etc...".

You're asking us to distinguish between these various things individually -  i.e. to compare gap with crevice and crevice with rip, and so on -  so the correct preposition is between, not 'among'. 

I realise that there must be a textbook somewhere in China that says that you must always use 'among' for three or more items, but that really isn't true. I would probably be a rich person by now if I had a penny for every time I've seen that mistake from students ( mainly Chinese) on this site.

4 januari 2018
1

I found those words in a toefl vocabulary book. Thanks for you suggestion! I've learned the gap, crevice, fracture and breach.

But rip seems like a tomb? Cleft is a special form of lip? Are they right?

I thought those words all represent some gap.

4 januari 2018
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