cleavage

noun cleav·age \ˈklē-vij\

: 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

Full Definition of CLEAVAGE

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

: the action of cleaving : the state of being cleft

: 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

: the splitting of a molecule into simpler molecules

: the depression between a woman's breasts especially when made visible by a low-cut neckline

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First Known Use of CLEAVAGE

1816

Related to CLEAVAGE

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

Antonyms: unification, union

Other Geology Terms

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

CLEAVAGE Defined for Kids

cleavage

noun cleav·age \ˈklē-vij\

Definition of CLEAVAGE for Kids

: the tendency of a rock or mineral to split readily in one or more directions

: the action of splitting

: the state of being split

Medical Dictionary

cleavage

noun cleav·age \ˈklē-vij\

Medical Definition of CLEAVAGE

: 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

: the splitting of a molecule into simpler molecules