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 .

Example Sentences

People living with AS can take years to develop symptoms, which include chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.

From Science Daily

“I put my whole chest into it and it felt so good!”

From Los Angeles Times

“My chest is wheezing. I have an irregular heartbeat,” said Uribe, who’s gone to the emergency room because he couldn’t breathe.

From Los Angeles Times

She was hit by a vehicle driven by a member of the public travelling on the southbound carriageway and sustained fatal head, neck and chest injuries.

From BBC

Unsure what to say, Hope leaned his chest over the cot, passing his body heat to her.

From Salon

Related Words

• breast
• heart
• rib cage