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

   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

Other Word Forms

• chested adjective
• chestful 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, to relieve oneself of (problems, troubling thoughts, etc.) by revealing them to someone.

2. play it close to the chest. vest.

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

Example Sentences

This is the sort of anti-bully cosplay I’ve come to see often in recent months: Kids I know strutting around with their chests puffed out like roosters, imitating a neighborhood bully who insults immigrants.

Read more on Salon

The hospital filled with shell-shocked kids who had been wrenched from collapsed buildings and others with bullet wounds in their chests and heads.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Even if I can't play football again, even if I can't go for a run again, I don't want to have a dull, achy pain in my chest."

Read more on BBC

The left-handed Campbell attempted a slog sweep off Jadeja and Sudharsan instinctively held on to the ball with his helmet, chest and hands as he ducked for cover.

Read more on Barron's

In 2019, this concluded that Ms Wanjiru had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers and that she had suffered stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• breast 
• heart 
• rib cage