What does creviced mean?
“Creviced” most often describes a surface marked by narrow cracks, fissures, or gaps. It is especially natural for rock, ice, stone, walls, and weathered masonry: a “creviced cliff,” for example, has fissures that water, wind, plants, or animals may occupy. The adjective suggests several small or narrow breaks rather than one major rupture, distinguishing it from words such as “crevassed,” which commonly refer to a large, dramatic split in ice or ground. In its rare verbal use, “creviced” means to split or form a fissure, as when a brittle surface gives way. The word is useful because it evokes both texture and imperfection: something can remain intact while being marked by a network of cracks. It appears in standard British and American English and combines a precise physical meaning with a slightly literary atmosphere.
Having narrow cracks, fissures, or crevices in the surface.
"A pale fern grew from the creviced stone wall."
Standard in British and American English; often somewhat literary when used of rock, ice, or masonry.
To split or form a fissure.
"The lake ice creviced with a sharp crack."
Rare and archaic; the lexicalized adjective is much more common.
A surface can be creviced without being broken apart: the word evokes a skin of many small cracks rather than one gaping rupture.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does creviced come from?
The adjective “creviced” was formed in English from “crevice” with the suffix “-ed.” “Crevice” comes through Old French from Latin “crevis,” meaning a narrow opening or fissure. The related French word “crevasse,” denoting a large break in ice or earth, also derives from this Latin source, while forms such as “crevassed” and “crevicing” reflect the same broader family.
Related word forms
How creviced is actually used
The adjective is standard in both British and American English and has a neutral, somewhat literary tone. It commonly denotes relatively narrow cracks rather than a single major break. The verbal use is rare and archaic.
Easily confused with creviced
Creviced describes a surface marked by narrow cracks or fissures, whereas crevassed is usually reserved for a dramatic split in ice, snow, or earth.