Dictionary Definition

cleavage

1 the state of being split or cleft

2 the breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules

3 (embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum [syn: segmentation]

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

5 the act of cleaving or splitting

User Contributed Dictionary

The hollow or separation between a woman's breasts, especially as revealed by a low neckline.
The act of cleaving or the state of being cleft.
The tendency of a crystal to split along specific planes.
The splitting of a large molecule into smaller ones.
The repeated division of a cell into daughter cells after mitosis.

separation between breasts

separation between breasts

the act or the state

mineralogy: tendency of a crystal

biology: cell division

Cleavage in general refers to a division or separation of form. Its usage is heavily dependent on cultural context, where it may refer to:

Partial exposure of part of the body:
- Cleavage (breasts), partial exposure of the separation between a woman's breasts.
  - Cleavage enhancement, methods of making a person's breast cleavage look better than it really is.
- Buttock cleavage
- Toe cleavage
Cleavage (crystal), in mineralogy and materials science, is a process of splitting a single crystal.
Cleavage (geology), Foliation perpendicular to stress as a result of ductile deformation. e.g. shales (shists)
Cleavage (embryo), in embryology, is the division of cells in the early embryo.
Cleavage (fiber), in optical fibers.
Teeth cleavage or tooth cleavage, slang for Diastema (dentistry), the gap between a person's two front teeth.
In cell biology, the Cleavage furrow is the indentation that begins the process of cleavage, by which animal cells undergo cytokinesis.
Cleavage (chemistry and biochemistry) The breaking of chemical bonds.
Cleavage (politics) The divisions of society that cause people to vote differently

cleavage in Ido: Klivo

cleavage in Italian: Sfaldatura

cleavage in Portuguese: Clivagem

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