different between severance vs cleavage

English

Alternative forms

• severaunce

Etymology

From Middle English severaunce, from Anglo-Norman, Old French sevrance, from sevrer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s?v.??ns/, /?s?v.??(?)n?s/

Noun

severance (countable and uncountable, plural severances)

1. The act of severing or the state of being severed.
2. A separation.
3. A severance payment.

Synonyms

• (separation): separation
• (severance payment): severance payment, severance pay

Translations

English

Etymology

cleave +? -age

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kli?v?d?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?kliv?d?/
• Hyphenation: cleav?age

Noun

cleavage (countable and uncountable, plural cleavages)

1. The act of cleaving or the state of being cleft. [from 19th c.]
2. The hollow or separation between a woman's breasts, especially as revealed by a low neckline. [from 20th c.]
3. (by extension) Any similar separation between two body parts, such as the buttocks or toes.
4. (biology) The repeated division of a cell into daughter cells after mitosis. [from 19th c.]
5. (chemistry) The splitting of a large molecule into smaller ones.
6. (mineralogy) The tendency of a crystal to split along specific planes. [from 19th c.]
7. (politics) The division of voters into voting blocs.

Synonyms

• (separation between breasts): intermammary sulcus

Derived terms

• cleavage furrow
• cleavaged

Related terms

• cleave
• cleft

Translations

See also

• décolletage
• spathic