cleavage

noun

cleav·​age ˈklē-vij How to pronounce cleavage (audio)
1
a
: the quality of a crystallized substance or rock of splitting along definite planes
also : the occurrence of such splitting
b
: a fragment (as of a diamond) obtained by splitting
2
: the action of cleaving or splitting : the state of being cleft
3
: the series of synchronized mitotic cell divisions of a fertilized egg that results in the formation of the blastomeres and changes the single-celled zygote into a multicellular embryo
also : one of these cell divisions
4
: the splitting of a molecule into simpler molecules
5
: the depression between a woman's breasts especially when made visible by a low-cut neckline

Examples of cleavage in a Sentence

The dress is cut low enough to reveal a lot of cleavage. the cleavage between the rich and poor the cleavages of an egg as an embryo develops
Recent Examples on the Web Such wars are more likely when a state’s political, social, economic, and geographic cleavages generally converge so that political parties, economic classes, and geographic areas all broadly align. Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2024 In the original, the game would reward you for taking provocative pics of female characters, dead or alive, when underwear or cleavage were in the frame. Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2024 State censorship has also taken aim at other areas, including a ban on women’s cleavage on TV. Chris Lau, CNN, 30 July 2024 The issues at the heart of the U.S.-Chinese competition, for instance—such as 5G and the Taiwan Strait—do not overlap with the core political cleavages within many of Asia’s swing states. Paul Staniland, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for cleavage 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cleavage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cleavage was in 1816

Dictionary Entries Near cleavage

Cite this Entry

“Cleavage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleavage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cleavage

noun
cleav·​age ˈklē-vij How to pronounce cleavage (audio)
1
: the quality of a crystallized substance or rock of splitting in definite directions
2
: the action of cleaving : the state of being cleaved
3
: the series of mitotic cell divisions of a fertilized egg that changes the single cell into a many-celled embryo

Medical Definition

cleavage

noun
cleav·​age ˈklē-vij How to pronounce cleavage (audio)
1
: the series of synchronized mitotic cell divisions of the fertilized egg that results in the formation of the blastomeres and changes the single-celled zygote into a multicellular embryo
also : one of these cell divisions
2
: the splitting of a molecule into simpler molecules

More from Merriam-Webster on cleavage

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