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chest Definition

chest (c̸hest)

noun

  1. a box with a lid and, often, a lock, for storing or shipping things
  2. Rare a place where money or funds are kept; treasury
  3. a public fund the community chest
  4. chest of drawers
  5. a cabinet, as for holding medical supplies or toiletries
    1. the part of the body enclosed by the ribs, breastbone, and diaphragm; thorax
    2. the outside front part of this

Etymology: ME chest, chiste < OE, ON, or L: OE cist & ON kista < L cista < Gr kistē, a box, basket < IE *kista, woven container > OIr cess, basket

chest Idioms

get something off one's chest

Informal to unburden oneself of some trouble, annoyance, etc. by talking about it

chest Synonyms

chest

n.

  1. A box-like container, or a piece of furniture with drawers

    case, box, coffer, cabinet, commode, strongbox, receptacle, crate, locker, chest of drawers, dresser, bureau, chiffonier, clothespress, highboy, lowboy, jewel box, casket, coffin, treasury, reliquary, caddy, pyxis; see also container, furniture.

  2. The ribbed portion of the body

    breast, thorax, bosom, rib cage, heart, upper trunk, pulmonary cavity, peritoneum, ribs.

chest Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • drawer: My mother would make a chest of drawers for us from match boxes.
  • drawers: The gallery has a double bed and chest of drawers and there is a pine bench and rocking chair to enjoy the view.

Converse of object

unlock: Before unlocking the chest, strengthen it by dipping it in a precious liquid.

Adjective modifier

  • hairy: I love a guy with a hairy, muscular chest.
  • wheezy: On contact with them I suffer a burning, ulcerated throat, a runny nose, sneezing and a wheezy chest.
  • bare: If you do watch from here please be respectful of the religious sensitivities of the site ( no shorts or bare chests ).
  • wooden: The memorabilia is currently stored in a wooden chest.
  • upper: And when tightness in the upper chest, that's tightness like what?

Modifies a noun

  • x-ray: A chest x-ray is usually normal in the early stages of the disease.
  • X-ray: A later chest X-ray showed some congestion on the lungs.
  • pain: You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
  • infection: Long periods of time were spent in a London hospital with repeated chest infections.
  • tightness: Observation of Amy did not reveal any apparent chest tightness, or shortness of breath.
  • strap: These all work from a polar chest strap that comes as standard.

Noun used with modifier

  • treasure: I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!
  • drawer: This chest is almost the same height as the Deep 5 drawer chest but is narrower and not quite as deep.
  • bedside: The larger of the two bedrooms contains a double and a single bed, wardrobe, bedside chest of drawers and a dressing table.
  • mahogany: Including mahogany chests, bookcases, mirrors, office furniture, bedroom furniture, dining tables, davenport desks, cabinets and more.
  • tomb: Opposite is a 17th century tomb chest to Lord Sherrard, showing his eight children at prayer.
  • steam: This is achieved by a valve arrangement inside the steam chest, which is located next to each cylinder.