As nouns the difference between outcrop and cliff
is that outcrop is a piece of land that stands out (usually into water) from the land surrounding while cliff is a vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.
As a verb outcrop
is to come out to the surface of the ground.
As a proper noun Cliff is
a diminutive of the male given name Clifford.
outcrop
English
Noun
(
en noun)
A piece of land that stands out (usually into water) from the land surrounding.
A coming out of bedrock or of an unconsolidated deposit to the surface of the ground.
The part of a rock formation that appears at the surface of the ground.
Verb
(outcropp)
(geology, of a stratum) To come out to the surface of the ground.
cliff
Etymology 1
(etyl) clif .
Noun
(
en noun)
A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.
Synonyms
* precipice
Derived terms
* cliff swallow
* cliff-face
* cliffed
* cliffhanger
* cliffing
* cliffy
Etymology 2