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breast definition

breast (brest)

noun

  1. either of two milk-secreting glands protruding from the upper, front part of a woman's body
  2. a corresponding gland in a female primate
  3. a corresponding undeveloped gland in the male
  4. figuratively, a source of nourishment
    1. the front part of a person's chest
    2. the corresponding part of some animals, as a bird or lamb
  6. the part of a garment, etc. that is over the breast
  7. the breast regarded as the center of emotions
  8. anything likened to the breast the breast of the sea
  9. Mining the face that is being worked at the end of an excavation or tunnel

Etymology: ME brest < OE breost < IE base *bhreus-, to swell, sprout

transitive verb

  1. to oppose the breast to; face
  2. to face or meet firmly; move forward against
breast Idioms

beat one's breast

to make an exaggerated display of one's feelings of guilt, remorse, etc.

make a clean breast of

to confess (guilt, etc.) fully

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms breast idiom

medical breast definition - medical

breast Synonyms

breast

n.

  1. The forepart of the body above the abdomen

    chest, thorax, heart, bosom; see chest 2.

  2. A protuberant mammary gland

    bosom, mammary gland, teat, mammilla, nipple, bust, dug (especially of animals), udder (especially of cows), tit*, titty*, jug*, boobie*, boob*, knocker*. *

  3. One's inner self

    mind, heart, bosom, thoughts, conscience, soul, feelings, psyche, spirit, essential nature, being, character, innermost being, heart of hearts, core; see also mind 1, soul 2.

breast refers to the front part of the human torso from the shoulders to the abdomen, or designates either of the female mammary glands; bosom refers to the entire human breast or to a woman's two breasts but, except in euphemistic applications a big-bosomed matron, is now more common in figurative usage, where it implies the human breast as a source of feeling, a protective, loving enclosure, etc. the bosom of his family; bust, as considered here, almost always implies the female breasts and is the conventional term in referring to silhouette, form, etc., as in garment fitting or beauty contests

beat one's breast

repent, humble oneself, be penitent, be remorseful; see apologize, regret 1.

make a clean breast of

confess, reveal, expose; see admit 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

breast Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • chicken: Create a pocket in the breast of each chicken with a sharp knife, fill with the stuffing and close the pocket opening.

Converse of object

  • roast: It's lower in fat than most other meats ( just 2.1 grams in a serving of roasted chicken breast, skin removed!

Adjective modifier

  • skinless: Grilling and poaching or steaming are the best methods for keeping skinless breasts succulent.

Modifies a noun

  • cancer: The research actually works with women who already have breast cancer, finding ways to maximize their survival.

Noun used with modifier

  • chimney: The chimney breast was treated to a concrete effect paint finish.
breast usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

breast quotes

Onlyöbut this is rareö When a beloved hand is laid in ours, When, jaded with the rush and glare Of the interminable hours, Our eyes can in another's eyes read clear, When our world-deafened ear Is by the tones of a loved voice caressedö A bolt is shot back somewhere in our breast, And a lost pulse of feeling stirs again. The eye sinks inward, and the heart lies plain, And what we mean, we say, and what we would, we know.

-Arnold, Matthew

What art thou that dost creep into my breast And dar'st not see my face? Show forth thyself. I feel a pair of fiery wings displayed Hither, from thence.You shall not tarry there; Up and begone. If thou beest love, begone.

-Beaumont, Francis and Fletcher,John

One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, Sleep to wake.

-Browning, Robert

breast quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"breast." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/breast>

APA Style

breast. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/breast

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