breast Hear it!

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
  5. the part of a garment, etc. that is over the breast
  6. the breast regarded as the center of emotions
  7. anything likened to the breast the breast of the sea
  8. 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

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