cleavage

noun cleav·age \ ˈklē-vij \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Definition of cleavage

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

See cleavage defined for English-language learners

See cleavage defined for kids

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 of cleavage from the Web

The cardigan also had a late-’90s moment thanks to Cameron Diaz’s bombshell character in There’s Something About Mary, who wore a modest cardigan with a cleavage-baring slinky tank top.

— alexandra gurvitch, Vogue, "Yes, Cardigans Can Be Sexy," 13 June 2018
Her friend had on a low-cut top and the photo, which supposedly was meant to showcase a necklace, highlighted her new (and substantial) cleavage.

— laura clydesdale, chicagotribune.com, "Making sure my daughter doesn't see herself through the haze of an Instagram filter," 22 May 2018
Actress Kristen Stewart showed off her cleavage and legs in a super low-cut blazer at the Chanel Cruise 2018/2019 Fashion Show, held at Le Grand Palais in Paris.

— Fox News, "FOX411's snap of the day," 9 May 2018
Slovaks who see themselves as part of the democratic West once feared their tiny nation, independent only since its 1993 cleavage from the Czech Republic, could follow.

— griff witte, Washington Post, "How Slovakia stood up to a journalist’s murder and kicked out its prime minister," 28 Mar. 2018
Another factor was the unfortunate economic cleavages that Johnson administration war policies reinforced.

— arthur i. cyr, Lake County News-Sun, "Cyr: The essence of Memorial Day," 1 June 2018
This is always true for the party out of power, forced to reckon with its ideological cleavages, personality conflicts, and the lack of a singular leader who can compete head-to-head with the bully pulpit of a president.

— peter hamby, The Hive, "“That Is What Power Looks Like”: As Trump Prepares for 2020, Democrats Are Losing the Only Fight That Matters," 26 May 2018
The uniforms should take the form of the classic college cheerleading look, skirts and crop tops that highlight their six-packs without revealing major cleavage.

— kalyn kahler, SI.com, "NFL Cheerleading Can Still Be Saved," 10 May 2018
The length of the poncho suggests it’s designed to cover cleavage.

— wjbk-tv, BostonGlobe.com, "A Michigan school planned to make girls wear a ‘modesty poncho’ at prom if their dresses were too revealing," 1 May 2018

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.

First Known Use of cleavage

1816

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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cleavage Synonyms

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

CLEAVAGE Defined for English Language Learners

cleavage

noun

Definition of cleavage for English Language Learners

: 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

CLEAVAGE Defined for Kids

cleavage

noun cleav·age \ ˈklē-vij \

Definition of cleavage for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

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