bosom

1 of 3

noun

bos·​om ˈbu̇-zəm 

 also  ˈbü-

1

a

: the human chest and especially the front part of the chest

hugged the child to his bosom

b

: a woman's breasts regarded especially as a single feature

a woman with an ample bosom

also : breast

a woman's bosoms

2

a

: the chest conceived of as the seat of the emotions and intimate feelings

a story you will take to your bosom

b

: the security and intimacy of or like that of being hugged to someone's bosom

the bosom of her family

3

: the part of a garment that covers the chest or the breasts

bosom

2 of 3

verb

bosomed; bosoming; bosoms

transitive verb

1

: to enclose in or as if in an embrace

a Gothic, moss-grown structure, half bosomed in trees

—T. L. Peacock

2

: to enclose or carry in the bosom (see bosom entry 1)

she bosomed her letter

—E. P. O'Donnell

bosom

3 of 3

adjective

: close, intimate

bosom friends

Synonyms

Noun

• belly
• blood
• bone(s)
• breast
• core
• gut
• heart
• heartstrings
• inner space
• inside
• quick
• soul

Verb

• bower
• circumfuse
• cocoon
• embosom
• embower
• embrace
• enclose
• inclose
• encompass
• enfold
• enshroud
• enswathe
• envelop
• enwrap
• invest
• involve
• lap
• mantle
• muffle
• shroud
• swathe
• veil
• wrap

Adjective

• buddy-buddy
• chummy
• close
• especial
• familiar
• friendly
• inseparable
• intimate
• inward
• near
• thick
• tight

Examples of bosom in a Sentence

Noun

He clutched the flowers to his bosom.

He never spoke of his childhood as an orphan, but kept dark memories of those days in his bosom.

The shirt has a plain color and ruffles at the bosom.

Verb

bosomed by overgrown shrubbery, the abandoned cottage seemed like the ideal place for an afternoon tryst

Adjective

promised to remain bosom friends for the rest of their lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To me, like a flock of stars rising from her bosom. —Serge F. Kovaleski, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

And then there was the rising popularity in the twenty-tens of Brazilian butt lifts, signalling the hastening shift of America’s erotic focus from the bosom to the posterior. —Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Schubert and the law enforcement agencies that fall under her jurisdiction appear to be bosom buddies. —Monique Judge, The Root, 15 May 2018

Jim Hamre and Zack Willhoite were also bosom buddies in their passion for public transportation who had excitedly awaited the day higher-speed trains could zip through their home turf. —Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English bōsm; akin to Old High German buosam bosom

Verb

verbal derivative of bosom entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of bosom entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1590, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bosom

1 of 2 noun

bos·​om ˈbu̇z-əm 

1

: the front of the human chest

especially : a woman's breasts

2

: the chest thought of as the center of secret thoughts and feelings

3

: a close and comforting relationship

in the bosom of her family

4

: the part of a garment covering the breast

bosomed

-əmd

adjective

bosom

2 of 2 adjective

: intimate entry 2 sense 3a, close

bosom friends