noun
Uncommon
cleavage
KLEE-vihj
Cleavage (noun) means the visible gap between a woman's breasts, especially when shown by a low neckline. Example: “The dress had a neckline that showed a hint of cleavage.”
noun
1
The visible gap between a woman's breasts, especially when shown by a low neckline.
"The dress had a neckline that showed a hint of cleavage."
"She chose a more modest top for the interview, one without much cleavage."
2
A split or division of something into separate parts, including the natural splitting planes in crystals or the division of cells during growth.
"Geologists studied the mineral's cleavage to identify it."
"The embryo underwent several rounds of cell cleavage in the first hours after fertilization."
How to use cleavage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often used for the gap shown between breasts, but the word's core meaning is simply "a splitting or division."
Common pairings
show cleavage
a hint of cleavage
cell cleavage
crystal cleavage
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Word forms
- Plural
- cleavages
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dress had a neckline that showed a hint of _____.
Etymology
Built from the verb "cleave" (to split) plus the noun-forming suffix "-age" — the same pattern as "breakage" from "break."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cleavage
See all rhymes for cleavage →Frequently asked questions
What does “cleavage” mean?
The word “cleavage” means the visible gap between a woman's breasts, especially when shown by a low neckline. In plain terms, most often used for the gap shown between breasts, but the word's core meaning is simply "a splitting or division.".
How do you pronounce “cleavage”?
“Cleavage” is pronounced KLEE-vihj (/ˈkliːvɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cleavage” in a sentence?
Here is “cleavage” used in a sentence: “The dress had a neckline that showed a hint of cleavage.”
What part of speech is “cleavage”?
“Cleavage” is a noun.
Is “cleavage” a common word?
“Cleavage” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cleavage” have?
“Cleavage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the visible gap between a woman's breasts, especially when shown by a low neckline.
