Definitions

1. noun

A split or division, especially in a rock or a geological formation.

“The hikers carefully navigated the area with visible cleavage in the rock face.”

2. noun

The act of splitting or dividing, especially in a geological process.

“The process of cleavage in the rocks created a new valley over time.”

3. noun

A separation or division in a group, especially in a social or cultural context.

“The community was divided by the cleavage between the old and the young.”

4. noun

A division or separation in a material, especially in a textile or fabric.

“The seams showed visible cleavage in the torn fabric.”

5. noun

A separation or division in a sound, especially in music.

“The composer used the concept of cleavage to create a new musical effect.”

6. noun

A separation or division in a language, especially in linguistics.

“The linguist studied the cleavage between the old and new dialects.”

7. verb

To split or divide, especially in a geological process.

“The tectonic plates will cleave apart over the next million years.”

8. verb

To separate or divide, especially in a social or cultural context.

“The community was cleaved by the division between the old and the young.”

9. verb

To divide or separate, especially in a material or fabric.

“The fabric cleaves apart at the seams.”