'Cleavage' definitions:
Definition of 'cleavage'
(from WordNet)
noun
The state of being split or cleft; "there was a cleavage between the liberal and conservative members"
noun
The breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules
noun
(embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum [syn: cleavage, segmentation]
noun
The line formed by a groove between two parts (especially the separation between a woman's breasts)
noun
The act of cleaving or splitting
Definition of 'Cleavage'
From: GCIDE
- Cleavage \Cleav"age\, n.
- 1. The act of cleaving or splitting. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Crystallog.) The quality possessed by many crystallized substances of splitting readily in one or more definite directions, in which the cohesive attraction is a minimum, affording more or less smooth surfaces; the direction of the dividing plane; a fragment obtained by cleaving, as of a diamond. See Parting. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Geol.) Division into lamin[ae], like slate, with the lamination not necessarily parallel to the plane of deposition; -- usually produced by pressure. [1913 Webster]
- Basal cleavage, cleavage parallel to the base of a crystal, or to the plane of the lateral axes.
- Cell cleavage (Biol.), multiplication of cells by fission. See Segmentation.
- Cubic cleavage, cleavage parallel to the faces of a cube.
- Diagonal cleavage, cleavage parallel to ta diagonal plane.
- Egg clavage. (Biol.) See Segmentation.
- Lateral cleavage, cleavage parallel to the lateral planes.
- Octahedral cleavage, Dodecahedral cleavage, or Rhombohedral cleavage, cleavage parallel to the faces of an octahedron, dodecahedron, or rhombohedron.
- Prismatic cleavage, cleavage parallel to a vertical prism. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'cleavage'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abscission,
- alienation,
- alpha decay,
- amputation,
- atom-chipping,
- atom-smashing,
- atomic disintegration,
- atomic reaction,
- atomization,
- beta decay,
- bombardment,
- breach,
- breach of friendship,
- break,
- breeding,
- bullet,
- butchering,
- chain reaction,
- chasm,
- chopping,
- cleft,
- cutting,
- dichotomy,
- disaffection,
- disfavor,
- disintegration series,
- disruption,
- dissociation,
- disunion,
- disunity,
- divergence,
- dividedness,
- division,
- enucleation,
- estrangement,
- exchange reaction,
- excision,
- falling-out,
- fission,
- fission reaction,
- gamma decay,
- ionization,
- laceration,
- mutilation,
- neutron reaction,
- nonreversible reaction,
- nuclear fission,
- nucleization,
- open rupture,
- photodisintegration,
- proton gun,
- proton reaction,
- recall of ambassadors,
- rending,
- resection,
- reversible reaction,
- rift,
- ripping,
- rupture,
- schism,
- scission,
- section,
- separation,
- severance,
- slashing,
- slicing,
- split,
- splitting,
- splitting the atom,
- stimulation,
- surgery,
- target,
- tearing,
- thermonuclear reaction