breast
- 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.
- Zoology. the corresponding part in quadrupeds.
- 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.
- the part of a garment that covers the chest.
- the bosom conceived of as the center of emotion: What anger lay in his breast when he made that speech?
- a projection from a wall, as part of a chimney.
- any surface or part resembling or likened to the human breast.
- Mining. the face or heading at which the work is going on.
- Metallurgy.
- the front of an open-hearth furnace.
- the clay surrounding the taphole of a cupola.
- Nautical.
- breast line.
- a rounded bow.
- to meet or oppose boldly; confront: As a controversial public figure he has breasted much hostile criticism.
- to contend with or advance against: The ship breasted the turbulent seas.
- to climb or climb over (a mountain, obstacle, etc.).
- to overcome, succeed against.
- to come alongside or abreast of.
- breast in, Nautical. to bind (an object, as a boatswain's chair) securely under a projection, as the flare of a bow.
- breast off, Nautical.
- to thrust (a vessel) sideways from a wharf.
- to keep (a vessel) away from a wharf by means of timbers.
- beat one's breast, to display one's grief, remorse, etc., in a loud and demonstrative manner.
- 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.
Origin of breast
Related Words for breast
chest, bosom, nipple, heart, front, bust, udder, mammilla, teat, core, being, character, mind, soul, psyche, spirit, emotions, sentiments, thoughtsExamples from the Web for breast
Contemporary Examples of breast
He tore a piece of meat off the breast and stroked her coat while she ate.
My girlfriend, Barbara, came to visit me and exposed her breast through the window.
The Unbelievable (True) Story of the World’s Most Infamous Hash SmugglerMarlow Stern
November 14, 2014
It carries a conditioner that contains triclosan, which has been linked to promoting the growth of breast cancer cells.
Business Insider calculated that only about eight percent of the money spent on pink merchandise went to breast cancer charities.
Hooters is cleverly asking me to “Give a Hoot” about breast cancer.
Historical Examples of breast
Methought anon you saw me go down with three pikes in my breast.
The Armourer's PrenticesCharlotte M. Yonge
Her cries and pleadings were being smothered down on his breast.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
The coverlet dropped from her breast; her hand was suspended with stiff fingers.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
Then with astonishing clearness he saw her hand resting against her breast.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
She hid her face on his breast against his tickly coat, and cried.
Life and Death of Harriett FreanMay Sinclair
breast
- the front part of the body from the neck to the abdomen; chest
- either of the two soft fleshy milk-secreting glands on the chest in sexually mature human femalesadjective mammary
- a similar organ in certain other mammals
- anything that resembles a breast in shape or positionthe breast of the hill
- a source of nourishmentthe city took the victims to its breast
- the source of human emotions
- the part of a garment that covers the breast
- a projection from the side of a wall, esp that formed by a chimney
- mining the face being worked at the end of a tunnel
- beat one's breast to display guilt and remorse publicly or ostentatiously
- make a clean breast of to make a confession of
- to confront boldly; facebreast the storm
- to oppose with the breast or meet at breast levelbreasting the waves
- to come alongside ofbreast the ship
- to reach the summit ofbreasting the mountain top
Word Origin for breast
Word Origin and History for breast
Old English breost "breast, bosom; mind, thought, disposition," from Proto-Germanic *breustam "breast" (cf. Old Saxon briost, Old Frisian briast, Old Norse brjost, Dutch borst, German brust, Gothic brusts), perhaps literally "swelling" and from PIE root *bhreus- "to swell, sprout" (cf. Middle Irish bruasach "having a broad, strong chest," Old Irish bruinne "breast"). The spelling conforms to the Scottish and northern England dialectal pronunciation. Figurative sense of "seat of the emotions" was in Old English.
breast
(brĕst)- Either of two milk-secreting, glandular organs on the chest of a woman; mammary gland; mamma.
- A corresponding rudimentary gland in the male.
- The superior ventral surface of the human body, extending from the neck to the abdomen.
Idioms and Phrases with breast
breast
see keep abreast of; make a clean breast of.