Meaning

noun the state of being split or cleft

noun the breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules

noun (embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum

originEtymology tree English cleave Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus Latin -āticus Latin -āticum Old French -agebor. Middle English -age English -age English cleavage From cleave + -age.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0