chest

American  

[chest] / tʃɛst /

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.

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idioms

1. get (something) off one's chest, to relieve oneself of (problems, troubling thoughts, etc.) by revealing them to someone.

2. play it close to the chest. vest.

chest British  

/ tʃɛst /

noun

1. 1. the front part of the trunk from the neck to the belly

   2. ( as modifier )

      a chest cold

2. 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. Also: chestful.  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

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chest More Idioms  

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

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Other Word Forms

• chested adjective
• chestful noun

Etymology

Origin of chest

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

Example Sentences

In rare cases endometriosis has been identified on the diaphragm and even in the chest.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

This is one film trailer keeping the cards close to its chest, and for good reason: “The Drama” is required viewing.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

That represents a “treasure chest of data” to power AI, and it stems from the productivity software the company owns, like Microsoft 365, Teams, Fabric, Dynamics and LinkedIn.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

“If a patient has no complaints like chest pain they don’t need catheterization and don’t need a stent,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

When she had filled her chest with air, she closed her eyes, lifted the glass to her lips, and drained it down.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• breast
• heart
• rib cage