cleft foot

9.8

A foot born with a deep gap between the third and fourth toes that extends into the foot

noun
/klɛft fʊt/

Specialized

: pie hendido

The child was born with a cleft foot.

Examples

Surgical treatment can improve function and appearance in patients with a cleft foot.
Many children with cleft feet require surgery.
A cleft foot may be associated with other congenital anomalies.
The newborn was diagnosed with a cleft foot after examination by the pediatrician.
A cleft foot may be associated with other congenital anomalies.
Surgical treatment can improve function and appearance in patients with a cleft foot.
The newborn was diagnosed with a cleft foot after examination by the pediatrician.

Antonyms

normal

∞ 1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

Surface Forms

cleft foot singular

cleft feet plural

Morphology

cleft + foot

The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'cleft' (split or divided) and 'foot' (the body part), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a foot with a split or division. Although the full medical specifics (which toes are involved and congenital nature) add technical detail, the core meaning is literal and compositional and thus readily inferable.

Etymology

Cleft foot names a foot that has a deep split between the toes; cleft means 'split' and foot is the body part. One popular way to remember it is to imagine the foot visibly split by a wide gap, so the phrase describes the condition someone is 'born with' where the space between toes reaches into the foot.