breast
breast definition
breast (brest)
noun
- either of two milk-secreting glands protruding from the upper, front part of a woman's body
- a corresponding gland in a female primate
- a corresponding undeveloped gland in the male
- figuratively, a source of nourishment
- the front part of a person's chest
- the corresponding part of some animals, as a bird or lamb
- the part of a garment, etc. that is over the breast
- the breast regarded as the center of emotions
- anything likened to the breast the breast of the sea
- 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
- to oppose the breast to; face
- 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 © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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