pectoral
Americanadjective
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of, in, on, or pertaining to the chest or breast; thoracic.
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worn on the breast or chest.
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proceeding from the heart or inner consciousness.
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Speech. (of a vocal quality) appearing to come from resonance in the chest; full or deep.
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of or for diseases of the lungs.
noun
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Anatomy. a pectoral part or organ, as a pectoral muscle.
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something worn on the breast for ornament, protection, etc., as a breastplate.
adjective
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of or relating to the chest, breast, or thorax
pectoral fins
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worn on the breast or chest
a pectoral medallion
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rare heartfelt or sincere
noun
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a pectoral organ or part, esp a muscle or fin
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a medicine or remedy for disorders of the chest or lungs
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anything worn on the chest or breast for decoration or protection
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pectoral
1400–50; (noun) late Middle English < Latin pectorāle, noun use of neuter of pectorālis of the breast ( pector-, stem of pectus breast + -ālis -al 1 ); (adj.) < Latin pectorālis
Vocabulary lists containing pectoral
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That body was found with two bracelets, two earrings, and pectoral jewelry that featured bats and crocodiles, she added.
From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026
World number one Jannik Sinner says Grigor Dimitrov "deserves" to be in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, after the Bulgarian is forced into retiring with a two-set lead because of a pectoral injury in their fourth-round match.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2025
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Six Nations after he picked up a pectoral muscle injury while training with Glasgow Warriors.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2025
On offense, left tackle Rashawn Slater was sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2024
Despite her dosing him with the cherry pectoral every few hours, and rubbing his chest with camphor oil, he had still hacked most of the night, sometimes having trouble catching his breath.
From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
