cleavage

/ˈklivɪdʒ/

/ˈklivɪdʒ/

Other forms: cleavages

Cleavage is a word for a kind of splitting or separation: it's mainly used for the split between a woman's breasts.

We can talk about many kinds of cleavage, such as the splitting of a cell or a hunk of wood. Political movements will often have a cleavage, as differences of opinion create factions. This word is interesting because cleavage is not only a separation, but it can mean a bringing together. When you think of the cleavage created by a woman's breasts — stop staring, by the way — you can see the separation and bringing together very well.

Definitions of cleavage

1. noun

   the act of cleaving or splitting
   type of:

   division

   the act or process of dividing
2. noun

   the breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules
   type of:

   chemical action, chemical change, chemical process

   (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
3. noun

   (embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum
   synonyms: segmentation

   type of:

   cell division, cellular division

   the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells
4. noun

   the state of being split or cleft
   “there was a cleavage between the liberal and conservative members”

   type of:

   state

   the way something is with respect to its main attributes
5. noun

   the line formed by a groove between two parts (especially the separation between a woman's breasts)
   type of:

   area, region

   a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve