cleavage

noun

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

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About cleavage

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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 All That scene at the beach in a bikini, and your shock when someone gave you cutlets to fill out your cleavage. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, 26 Aug. 2021 Some lab leak proponents assert that the furin cleavage site is too novel to have occurred naturally. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2021 In Delta, one of the most important changes may be near the furin cleavage site on spike, where a human enzyme cuts the protein, a key step enabling the virus to invade human cells. — Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, 19 Aug. 2021 If the male gaze lingers on the most sensual parts of a woman’s body — the curve from the hip to the waist, the swell of cleavage — where does the female gaze linger? — Serena Smith, refinery29.com, 15 Aug. 2021 Batsheva, 28, adopts a cottage-core-inflected look, all fluffy skirts and puffy sleeves, with an occasional, if not overtly racy, display of cleavage. — New York Times, 12 Aug. 2021 My heartfelt advice to you is to keep your nose out of her cleavage. — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 6 Aug. 2021 Lots of cleavage on display for an event where everyone’s teachers and parents are going to be! — Jessica Goldstein, Vulture, 15 July 2021 One important mutation, called P681R, changes an amino acid at a spot directly beside the furin cleavage site, where a human enzyme cuts the protein, a key step enabling the virus to invade human cells. — Meredith Wadman, Science | AAAS, 23 June 2021

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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Dictionary Entries Near cleavage

cleavable

cleavage

cleavage cavity

Statistics for cleavage

Last Updated

13 Sep 2021

Cite this Entry

“Cleavage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleavage. Accessed 21 Sep. 2021.

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More Definitions for cleavage

cleavage

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cleavage

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

: a division between two things or groups

: 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