What does "breast" mean?
Either of the two organs on the front of a female human's chest, which contain the mammary glands; also the analogous organs in males.
Breast
/bɹɛst/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Either of the two organs on the front of a female human's chest, which contain the mammary glands; also the analogous organs in males.
- Grammar: breast is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: bosom, chest, affront, antagonize.
- Useful contrasts: avoid, back, dark meat.
- Usage evidence: You had better make a clean breast of everything.
How to use "breast"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "breast" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "breast" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "breast" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "breast" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "breast" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bosom" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "breast", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Either of the two organs on the front of a female human's chest, which contain the mammary glands; also the analogous organs in males.
"Tanya’s breasts grew remarkably during pregnancy."
- 2 the part of an animal's body that corresponds to a person's chest wordnet
- 3 The chest, or front of the human thorax.
"The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, / For he heard the loud bassoon."
- 4 the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen wordnet
- 5 A section of clothing covering the breast area.
"By the time he reached the War Memorial damp had soaked through the breasts of his shirt."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman wordnet
- 7 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."
- 8 meat carved from the breast of a fowl wordnet
- 9 The ventral portion of an animal’s thorax.
"The robin has a red breast."
- 10 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?"
- 11 The front or forward part of anything.
"chimney breast"
- 12 The upper surface of a landform or body of water.
"Mountains on whose barren breast / The labouring clouds do often rest."
- 13 The face of a coal working.
- 14 The front of a furnace.
- 15 The power of singing; a musical voice. obsolete
"By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast."
- 16 The breaststroke.
Verb
- 1 To push against with the breast; to meet full on, oppose, face. figuratively, often, transitive
"[…]when the court, very much to the credit of their candour and firmness, breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer."
- 2 confront bodily wordnet
- 3 To reach the top of (a hill or other prominence). transitive
"He breasted the hill and saw the town before him."
- 4 reach the summit (of a mountain) wordnet
- 5 To debreast. transitive
"Breast the birds; wash and dry well. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the birds in a roasting pan."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 meet at breast level wordnet
Example
"You had better make a clean breast of everything."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "breast"?
Common synonyms include: bosom, chest, affront, antagonize, bag, ballocks.
How do you use "breast" in a sentence?
You had better make a clean breast of everything.
How do you pronounce "breast"?
Pronounced /bɹɛst/.
Etymology
From Middle English brest, from Old English brēost, from Proto-West Germanic *breust, from Proto-Germanic *breustą, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrews- (“to swell”). Compare West Frisian boarst, Danish bryst, Swedish bröst; cf. also Dutch borst, German Brust.