What does "pectoral" mean?
A pectoral fin.
Pectoral
/ˈpɛk.tə.ɹəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A pectoral fin.
- Grammar: pectoral is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: pectoral muscle, chest muscle, chest-related, fin bearing.
- Useful contrasts: abdominal, abdominal muscle, back muscle.
- Usage evidence: To work your pectoral muscles try doing thirty push-ups.
How to use "pectoral"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pectoral" 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 "pectoral" 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 "pectoral" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pectoral" 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 "pectoral" is acting as adj, noun 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 "pectoral muscle" 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 "pectoral", 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 A pectoral fin.
- 2 an adornment worn on the chest or breast wordnet
- 3 Protective armor for a horse's breast.
"The Poitrinal, Pectoral, or Breast Plate was formed of plates of metal rivetted together, which covered the breast and shoulders of the horse, it was commonly adorned with foliage, or other ornaments engraved or embossed."
- 4 either of two large muscles of the chest wordnet
- 5 A covering or protection for the breast.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A breastplate, especially that worn by the Jewish high priest.
- 7 A clasp, cross, or ornamental square of cloth etc. worn upon the breast.
- 8 An ancient Egyptian item of jewelry worn upon the chest, often part of (or constituting) a necklace or collar. historical
- 9 A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest. not-comparable
"the pectoral muscles"
- 2 Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs. not-comparable
"But, in general, a few days' confinement, abstinence from flesh meat, and frequent sippings of some tepid pectoral drink, sufficed for the cure."
- 3 Having the breast conspicuously colored. not-comparable
"the pectoral sandpiper"
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to the chest or thorax wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"To work your pectoral muscles try doing thirty push-ups."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pectoral"?
Common synonyms include: pectoral muscle, chest muscle, chest-related, fin bearing, fin related, mammalian.
How do you use "pectoral" in a sentence?
To work your pectoral muscles try doing thirty push-ups.
How do you pronounce "pectoral"?
Pronounced /ˈpɛk.tə.ɹəl/.
Etymology
All senses are ultimately from Latin pectorālis, but some may have come through Old French and Middle English.