crustalrift
nounUK /ˈkrʌstəl rɪft/
US /ˈkrʌstəl rɪft/
A long crack in the outer layer of the Earth where the ground slowly pulls apart.
The crustalrift widened over thousands of years, creating a deep valley.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A place where two pieces of the Earth's surface are moving away from each other.
Scientists studied the crustalrift to learn how continents drift apart.
3. A deep opening in the ground formed by the Earth's crust breaking.
A river flowed through the crustalrift at the bottom of the canyon.
4. A split in rock layers caused by pulling forces inside the Earth.
The crustalrift exposed ancient rock layers along its steep walls.