cleavage

cleav·age  (klvj)

n.

1. The act of splitting or cleaving.

2. The state of being split or cleft; a fissure or division.

3. Mineralogy The splitting or tendency to split of a crystallized substance along definite crystalline planes, yielding smooth surfaces.

4. Embryology

a. The series of mitotic cell divisions that produces a blastula from a fertilized ovum. It is the basis of the multicellularity of complex organisms. Also called segmentation.

b. Any single cell division in such a series.

5. Chemistry The splitting of a complex molecule, such as a polysaccharide, into simpler molecules.

6. Informal The hollow between a woman's breasts, especially as revealed by a low neckline.

---

cleavage

Noun

1. the space between a woman's breasts, as revealed by a low-cut dress

2. a division or split

3. (of crystals) the act of splitting or the tendency to split along definite planes so as to make smooth surfaces

---

cleavage  (klvj)

1. Geology The breaking of certain minerals along specific planes, making smooth surfaces. These surfaces are parallel to the faces of the molecular crystals that make up the minerals. A mineral that exhibits cleavage breaks into smooth pieces with the same pattern of parallel surfaces regardless of how many times it is broken. Some minerals, like quartz, do not have a cleavage and break into uneven pieces with rough surfaces.

2.

a. Biology The series of mitotic cell divisions by which a single fertilized egg cell becomes a many-celled blastula. Each division produces cells half the size of the parent cell.

b. Any of the single cell divisions in such a series.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cleavage - the state of being split or cleft; "there was a cleavage between the liberal and conservative members" state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state"
	2.	cleavage - the breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules chemical action, chemical change, chemical process - (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
	3.	cleavage - (embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum segmentation embryology - the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms cell division, cellular division - the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells maternity, pregnancy, gestation - the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
	4.	cleavage - the line formed by a groove between two parts (especially the separation between a woman's breasts) region, area - a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve; "in the abdominal region"
	5.	cleavage - the act of cleaving or splitting division - the act or process of dividing

Translations

cleavage [ˈkliːvɪdʒ] n [of dress] → décolleté m

---

cleavage [ˈkliːvɪdʒ] n (of woman's breasts) → Dekolleté nt

---

cleavage [ˈkliːvɪdʒ] n [of woman] → scollatura