chest

[ chest ]

noun

1. Anatomy. the trunk of the body from the neck to the abdomen; thorax.
2. a box, usually with a lid, for storage, safekeeping of valuables, etc.:

   a toy chest; a jewelry chest.

3. the place where the funds of a public institution or charitable organization are kept; treasury; coffer.
4. the funds themselves.
5. a box in which certain goods, as tea, are packed for transit.
6. the quantity contained in such a box:

   a chest of spices.

7. chest of drawers.
8. a small cabinet, especially one hung on a wall, for storage, as of toiletries and medicines:

   a medicine chest.

chest

/ tʃɛst /

noun

1. 1. the front part of the trunk from the neck to the belly pectoral
   2. ( as modifier )

      a chest cold

2. get something off one's chest informal.
   to unburden oneself of troubles, worries, etc, by talking about them
3. a box, usually large and sturdy, used for storage or shipping

   a tea chest

4. Alsochestful the quantity a chest holds
5. rare.
   1. the place in which a public or charitable institution deposits its funds
   2. the funds so deposited
6. a sealed container or reservoir for a gas

   a wind chest

   a steam chest

Derived Forms

• ˈchested, adjective

Other Words From

• chest·ful [chest, -f, oo, l], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chest¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cest, cist, from Latin cista, from Greek kístē “box”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chest¹

Old English cest, from Latin cista wooden box, basket, from Greek kistē box

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get (something) off one's chest, Informal. to relieve oneself of (problems, troubling thoughts, etc.) by revealing them to someone.
2. play it close to the chest. vest ( def 16 ).

More idioms and phrases containing chest

see off one's chest ; play one's cards close to one's chest .

Related Words

• breast
• heart
• rib cage