chest

American  

[chest] / tʃɛst /

noun

• chests
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• chestful
  noun
• chested
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chests
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chest

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

Explanation

Your chest is the part of your body from your stomach to your neck. A bodybuilder or weightlifter is distinctive not only for his huge arms, but for his big, muscular chest. The character Tarzan is known for thumping his own chest while yelling — but if Tarzan gets a bad cold, he might cough so hard that his chest aches. Another kind of chest is a storage box with a connected lid that swings open. This is the oldest meaning of chest, from the Old English cest, "box or casket." The anatomical meaning comes from the idea that the ribs form a "box" — or a chest — around the internal organs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chest chests

She says those physical sensations - including a heavy feeling in her chest, a racing heart and difficulty concentrating - can reinforce the symptoms of anxiety, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

"As a gesture to the international community, it's the wildcard Min Aung Hlaing was holding close to his chest," he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

The customer bought an angel figure, fashioned with tears on her face and arms holding her chest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

“I have my day that’s specifically for my chest because it’s so special.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

He hugged his fleecy tail to his chest.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

"Last year we could swim across but now the water only comes up to our chests," said 71-year-old Doru, pointing to an island in the river.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

Will people start wearing N95 masks indoors, or have breathing apparatuses hooked up to their chests like fighter pilots?

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

Audience: Gen Xers and millennial kids who had boomer hand-me-downs in their toy chests.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

Under a tree stand two campus police officers in full gear and sunglasses, arms folded across their chests, surveying the crowd.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Maggie folded the map in half, set it on the insulated chests of frybread, and carried it all back to the truck.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• breast
• heart
• rib cage