cleavage

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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 splittingb : 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

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
The lace-up style is made to enhance your cleavage.

— brittany talarico, PEOPLE.com, "The 5 Bodysuits to Buy from Khloé Kardashian's New Good American Launch", 22 June 2017
A Polish diva, all blond hair and overflowing cleavage, belts about animal rights before a screen showing a digital flock of birds.

— william lee adams, Billboard, "How a 'Propaganda War' Overtook Eurovision, the World's Most Inclusive Song Competition", 8 June 2017
Her strapless bustier began to expose varying degrees of cleavage.

— diana martinez, The Atlantic, "The Fitful Evolution of Wonder Woman’s Look", 7 June 2017
As for the 15-year-old high school freshman who has faced in-school suspension for wearing shorts that were allegedly too short, she has also been reprimanded on other occasions for showing some of her stomach and for showing cleavage.

— kelly wallace, CNN, "Do school dress codes end up body-shaming girls?", 30 May 2017
Mix one swaggering, slurring, Johnny Depp (heavy on the eyeliner) with one headstrong young lass in a cleavage-baring corset and one noble, handsome upstart.

— katie walsh, latimes.com, "'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' sails well-charted waters", 25 May 2017
Because cleavage is so old-fashioned and sideboobs are so over.

— maria puente, USA TODAY, "The 'underboob' trend pops off beaches on to red carpets, catwalks, social media", 25 May 2017
And the women aren’t bad either, with director Seth Gordon having apparently decided to shoot this epic in Ogle-Vision, the better to emphasize cleavage and derrières.

— soren andersen, The Seattle Times, "‘Baywatch’ review: Keep your expectations low and you won’t be disappointed", 24 May 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

Other Geology Terms

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

CLEAVAGE Defined for English Language Learners

cleavage

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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

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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

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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