Breast

Pronunciation

• IPA: /brÉ›st/
• Rhymes: -É›st

Origin

From Middle English brest, from Old English brēost, from Proto-Germanic *breustą.

Full definition of breast

Noun

1. Either of the two organs on the front of a woman's chest, which contain the mammary glands; also the analogous organs in men.Tanya's breasts grew alarmingly during pregnancy.
2. The chest, or front of the human thorax.
• 1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, For he heard the loud bassoon.
3. A section of clothing covering the breast area.
4. The figurative seat of the emotions, feelings etc.; one's heart or innermost thoughts.She kindled hope in the breast of all who heard her.
• ShakespeareHe has a loyal breast.
5. The ventral portion of an animal's thorax.The robin has a red breast.
6. A choice cut of poultry, especially chicken or turkey, taken from the bird’s breast; also a cut of meat from other animals, breast of mutton, veal, pork.Would you like breast or wing?
7. The front or forward part of anything.a chimney breast; a plough breast
• MiltonMountains on whose barren breast
  The labouring clouds do often rest.
8. (mining) The face of a coal working.
9. (mining) The front of a furnace.
10. (obsolete) The power of singing; a musical voice.
• ShakespeareBy my troth, the fool has an excellent breast.

Synonyms

• (female organs) See also
• (chest) chest
• (seat of emotions) heart, soul
• (cut of poultry) white meat
• (cut of meat) brisket

Antonyms

• (cut of poultry) thigh, wing, dark meat

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To push against with the breast; to meet full on, to oppose, to face.He breasted the hill and saw the town before him.
• WirtThe court breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer.

Anagrams

• barest, baster, bestar, Tarbes