cleavage

noun cleav·age \ ˈklē-vij \

Updated on: 11 Apr 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

Dethroning the alternative cleavage statement is none other than the side-butt, which was put on full display last night night at the Met Gala by three of the biggest players in the derrière game: Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Beyoncé.

— lauren valenti, Marie Claire, "It's Official: Side-Butt Is the New Side-Boob," 31 Aug. 2015
The focus on her cleavage also, of course, gave us a perennial starting point for larger discussions about the depiction of women in the media.

— aja romano, Vox, "Why we’ve been arguing about Lara Croft for two decades," 17 Mar. 2018
Autumn Woods from Katy, Texas wears cleavage-baring leopard print to her New Orleans audition, so what could go wrong?

— robbie daw, Billboard, "'American Idol' Recap: Katy Perry Flashes The Camera in a Censored Moment (Critic's Take)," 13 Mar. 2018
Some don a favorite shirt that shows just enough cleavage.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Groping and harassment for handful of dollars," 12 Mar. 2018
Attending the Create & Cultivate women's conference in Los Angeles, Kardashian West wore a black, cleavage-baring tuxedo suit for the event.

— christian allaire, Vogue, "This is How Kim Kardashian West Does Executive Realness," 25 Feb. 2018
These cleavages extend to economic issues as well, with the inland, nonmetro regions that make up so much of the GOP base tending to rely on industries — particularly resource-extraction — that generate high carbon emissions.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Why Rural America Controls the Debates Over Guns and Immigration," 16 Feb. 2018
Shallow white lines branched out like riverways from my sternum along the inside of my cleavage — skin desperately trying to keep up with my new womanly figure, which would eventually stretch to reveal curvy hips and D cups.

— loren savini, Allure, "How I Learned to Love My Stretch Marks," 17 Jan. 2018
Yet the debate is widening cleavages between those championing Jewish nationalism and what others deem the Jewish values of charity and humanism that also underpin the state.

— The Economist, "Israel’s plan to deport Africans is dividing the country," 1 Feb. 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

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