cleavage

noun

cleav·​age ˈklē-vij 

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

Synonyms

• bifurcation
• breakup
• dissolution
• disunion
• division
• fractionalization
• fractionation
• partition
• schism
• scission
• separation
• split
• sundering

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

Freeing the nipple is high fashion, yet somehow good ol’ cleavage is now few and far between. —Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 11 July 2024

The other side: To those with Trump's ear on trade policy, the risk of higher consumer prices or lower profits is a small price to pay for supporting domestic manufacturing — and an economic cleavage with a rival world superpower is nothing to be feared. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 9 July 2024

The ample cleavage instantly made the otherwise-demure look feel racy—risqué, even! —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 26 June 2024

Vestager, the commissioner for competition, fears that too much largesse in public aid for high-tech sectors will exacerbate cleavages between the bloc’s rich and poor economies. —Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cleavage

• discoidal cleavage
• radial cleavage
• spiral cleavage

Kids Definition

cleavage

noun

cleav·​age ˈklē-vij 

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 

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