Antonyms for cleavage


Grammar : Noun
Spell : klee-vij
Phonetic Transcription : ˈkli vɪdʒ


Definition of cleavage

Origin :
  • 1816, in geology, "action of splitting (rocks or gems) along natural fissures," from cleave (v.1) + -age. General meaning "action or state of cleaving or being cleft" is from 1867.
  • The sense of "cleft between a woman's breasts in low-cut clothing" is first recorded 1946, defined in a "Time" magazine article [Aug. 5] as the "Johnston Office trade term for the shadowed depression dividing an actress' bosom into two distinct sections;" traditionally first used in this sense by U.S. publicist Joseph I. Breen (1888-1965), head of the Production Code Administration (replaced 1945 by Eric Johnston), enforcers of Hollywood self-censorship, in reference to Jane Russell's costumes and poses in "The Outlaw."
  • noun gap
Example sentences :
  • Mr. Carus-Wilson attributes this cleavage to unequal cooling of the mass.
  • Extract from : « The Book of the Damned » by Charles Fort
  • The cleavage of slates then is not a question of stratification; what then is its cause?
  • Extract from : « Fragments of science, V. 1-2 » by John Tyndall
  • The cleavage of our hills is accidental cleavage, but this is cleavage with intention.
  • Extract from : « Fragments of science, V. 1-2 » by John Tyndall
  • But we cannot regard the cleavage of the tree as the same in character as that of the hayrick.
  • Extract from : « Fragments of science, V. 1-2 » by John Tyndall
  • The planes of cleavage stand in most cases at a high angle to the bedding.
  • Extract from : « Fragments of science, V. 1-2 » by John Tyndall
  • Still the line of cleavage was not patriotic nor even international.
  • Extract from : « Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 5, June 1905 » by Various
  • The axillary branches in like manner showed traces of cleavage.
  • Extract from : « Vegetable Teratology » by Maxwell T. Masters
  • The cleavage of opinion, in fact, cut across the ordinary divisions of party.
  • Extract from : « Liberalism » by L. T. Hobhouse
  • The line of cleavage follows the grain, but a saw does not always do so.
  • Extract from : « American Forest Trees » by Henry H. Gibson
  • If a cleavage has to come let us, at least, face every consideration.
  • Extract from : « The Pillar of Light » by Louis Tracy

Synonyms for cleavage

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019