cleavage
UK: ˈkliːvɪdʒ | US: ˈkliːvɪdʒ
n. 1. The act of splitting or dividing, especially along a natural line or plane (e.g., rock cleavage).
n. 2. The space between a woman's breasts, as revealed by a low-cut garment.
n. 3. (Biology) The division of cells during embryonic development.
cleavage = cleave<to split> + age<noun suffix indicating action/result>
- cleave: From Old English clēofan ("to split"), related to Dutch klieven and German klieben. Retains the core meaning of division.
- age: A suffix derived from Latin -aticum, denoting a process or result (e.g., "breakage," "marriage").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Old English clēofan, reflecting the physical act of splitting. Over time, "cleavage" evolved to describe both literal divisions (e.g., rocks) and metaphorical ones (e.g., anatomical or biological contexts). The modern sense of "breast cleavage" emerged in the 19th century, metaphorically extending the idea of a "split."
Geologists study the cleavage of minerals to understand their crystalline structure.
Her dress had a deep neckline that emphasized her cleavage.
The zygote undergoes cleavage to form a multicellular embryo.
The political debate revealed a sharp cleavage between the two parties.
The artist captured the delicate cleavage of the marble slab in his sculpture.