cleavage

play

noun cleav·age \ ˈklē-vij \

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

Inside, there were more pictures featuring perfect makeup, a glittering gold evening gown, retro ivory lingerie, contoured cleavage and legs stretched long like Marlene Dietrich.

— robin givhan, chicagotribune.com, "Chelsea Manning does beach photo shoot for Vogue's September issue," 11 Aug. 2017
Some used the article to point out the double standard women often face, by highlighting another article claiming Miley Cyrus was showing too much cleavage.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Social Media Reacts to Article Claiming "Boobs Are Back"," 2 Aug. 2017
Most likely, this edict was put into place to eliminate the presence of cleavage.

— paige spiranac, Fortune, "The Progression of Women’s Golf Is Plunging Further Than Our Necklines," 20 July 2017
The resulting tensions have, for the past decades, opened up the most decisive political cleavage in much of Western Europe.

— yascha mounk, New Republic, "What the rise of populist movements means for democracy.," 19 July 2017
Her slim figure was on display too, wearing a midriff and cleavage-bearing black jumpsuit with peep-toe heels.

— dave quinn, PEOPLE.com, "Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets," 18 July 2017
The design adds a cool geometric effect to the bikini while simultaneously acting as a push-up bra, with its pointiest edge sitting right smack in the middle of the wearer's cleavage.

— de elizabeth, Allure, "The Vino Top by Bamba Is Instagram's New Favorite Bikini," 12 July 2017
A little cleavage won't hurt, either, but do yourself a favor and don't throw it all out there.

— sara dahlquist, OregonLive.com, "How to pick a dress to make you look your best for any summer event," 7 July 2017
This ideological cleavage within the GOP complicates McConnell’s ability to cobble a deal.

— sarah binder, Washington Post, "Here are the 4 reasons McConnell couldn’t get the Senate to replace Obamacare — yet," 28 June 2017

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

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

unification, union

Near Antonyms

assemblage, association; attachment, conjunction, connection, link, linkage, linkup; aggregation, combination, consolidation, fusion

Other Geology Terms

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

CLEAVAGE Defined for English Language Learners

cleavage

play

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

play

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

play

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