cleavage

cleav·age | \ ˈklē-vij

Definition of cleavage

1a : 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

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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 When campaigning for re-election in her North Vancouver riding, provincial NDP incumbent Bowinn Ma, 35, found herself the target of sexist bullying by Liberal MLAs who accused her of cuddling up with her colleagues and showing off her cleavage. — refinery29.com, "The 29 Canadian Game-Changers Who Got Us Through 2020," 7 Dec. 2020 In such a spirit- and faith-infused country, a fundamental cleavage exists between the predominately Muslim north, which is poor, and a mostly Christian south, which is also poor, if less so. — John Campbell, Quartz Africa, "A former ambassador says the US needs to reimagine its engagement with a modern Nigeria," 3 Dec. 2020 Though her cleavage is poppin', all anyone is talking about in the comments of the pic is the weird thing going on with Khloé's hands. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Every Time the Kardashian/Jenners Were Caught in a Photoshop Fail," 30 Oct. 2020 Now, her tiny new tat is pretty easy to miss, due to the light-bright strands and GLOWING cleavage exhibited in this photo. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "Kylie Jenner Reveals Bleach Blonde Hair and a Arm New Tattoo in *Smokin' Hot* New Photos," 24 June 2020 Regarding the cleavage between fact and value, matters are no less complicated. — Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, "Max Weber’s Agon," 11 June 2020 After prison officials measured the hem length, and then the height of her heels, she was then told the dress showed too much cleavage. — Jenny Block, New York Times, "Grateful for a Wedding in Prison," 22 Oct. 2020 The accompanying photo featured DiCarlo apparently topless in her bed, a hint of cleavage visible above her sheets, with her fingertips resting coyly against her forehead. — Lux Alptraum, Wired, "One Woman’s High-Touch Bid to Upend the Sex-Toy Industry," 16 Oct. 2020 Political analysts attributed the Kyrgyzstan crisis partly to the longstanding political, economic and ethnic cleavage between the country’s agrarian south and more developed north. — Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, "Kyrgyzstan in Chaos After Protesters Seize Government Buildings," 6 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cleavage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

17 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cleavage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleavage. Accessed 27 Dec. 2020.

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More Definitions for cleavage

cleavage

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cleavage

informal : the space between a woman's breasts especially when it can be easily seen

: a division between two things or groups

technical : the act of splitting apart

See the full definition for cleavage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cleavage

noun

cleav·age | \ ˈklē-vij

Kids Definition of cleavage

1 : the tendency of a rock or mineral to split readily in one or more directions

2 : the action of splitting

3 : the state of being split

cleavage

noun

cleav·age | \ ˈklē-vij

Medical Definition of cleavage

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

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