breast

[ brest ]

noun

1. Anatomy, Zoology. (in bipeds) the outer, front part of the thorax, or the front part of the body from the neck to the abdomen; chest.
2. Zoology. the corresponding part in quadrupeds.
3. either of the pair of mammae occurring on the chest in humans and having a discrete areola around the nipple, especially the mammae of the female after puberty, which are enlarged and softened by hormonally influenced mammary-gland development and fat deposition and which secrete milk after the birth of a child: the breasts of males normally remain rudimentary.
4. the part of a garment that covers the chest.
5. the bosom conceived of as the center of emotion:

   What anger lay in his breast when he made that speech?

6. a projection from a wall, as part of a chimney.
7. any surface or part resembling or likened to the human breast.
8. Mining. the face or heading at which the work is going on.
9. Metallurgy.
   1. the front of an open-hearth furnace.
   2. the clay surrounding the taphole of a cupola.
10. Nautical.
    1. breast line.
    2. a rounded bow.

verb (used with object)

1. to meet or oppose boldly; confront:

   As a controversial public figure he has breasted much hostile criticism.

2. to contend with or advance against:

   The ship breasted the turbulent seas.

3. to climb or climb over (a mountain, obstacle, etc.).
4. to overcome, succeed against.
5. to come alongside or abreast of.

verb phrase

1. Nautical.
   1. to thrust (a vessel) sideways from a wharf.
   2. to keep (a vessel) away from a wharf by means of timbers.
2. Nautical. to bind (an object, as a boatswain's chair) securely under a projection, as the flare of a bow.

breast

/ brɛst /

noun

1. the front part of the body from the neck to the abdomen; chest
2. either of the two soft fleshy milk-secreting glands on the chest in sexually mature human females adjective mammary
3. a similar organ in certain other mammals
4. anything that resembles a breast in shape or position

   the breast of the hill

5. a source of nourishment

   the city took the victims to its breast

6. the source of human emotions
7. the part of a garment that covers the breast
8. a projection from the side of a wall, esp that formed by a chimney
9. mining the face being worked at the end of a tunnel
10. beat one's breast
    to display guilt and remorse publicly or ostentatiously
11. make a clean breast of
    to make a confession of

verb

1. to confront boldly; face

   breast the storm

2. to oppose with the breast or meet at breast level

   breasting the waves

3. to come alongside of

   breast the ship

4. to reach the summit of

   breasting the mountain top

Other Words From

• breastless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breast¹

before 1000; Middle English brest, Old English brēost; cognate with Old Norse brjōst; akin to German Brust, Gothic brusts, Dutch borst

Word History and Origins

Origin of breast¹

Old English brēost ; related to Old Norse brjōst , Old High German brust , Dutch borst , Swedish bräss , Old Irish brū belly, body

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. beat one's breast, to display one's grief, remorse, etc., in a loud and demonstrative manner.
2. make a clean breast of, to confess everything (of which one is guilty):

   You'll feel better if you make a clean breast of it.

More idioms and phrases containing breast

see keep abreast of ; make a clean breast of .

Example Sentences

Lisa's faulty gene meant she had a 60-90% chance of developing breast cancer.

From BBC

The rare gene – discovered in 1994 - was found to increase the chances of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

From BBC

Lisa said she is now happy to “no longer live with anxiety” over the risk of developing breast cancer, but found it all extremely hard to process.

From BBC

Anyone can inherit the genes which can increase the risks of breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

From BBC

Rachel Davies, 40, from Swansea, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2021.

From BBC

Related Words

• bosom
• chest
• nipple