breast

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrest 

1

: either of the pair of mammary glands extending from the front of the chest in pubescent and adult human females and some other mammals

also : either of the analogous but rudimentary organs of the male chest especially when enlarged

2

a

: the fore or ventral part of the body between the neck and the abdomen

b

: the part of an article of clothing covering the breast

3

: the seat of emotion and thought : bosom

4

a

: something (such as a front, swelling, or curving part) resembling a breast

b

: face sense 6

breasted

ˈbre-stəd 

adjective

breast

2 of 2

verb

breasted; breasting; breasts

transitive verb

1

: to contend with resolutely : confront

breasting the waves

2

chiefly British : climb, ascend

3

: to thrust the chest against

the sprinter breasted the tape

Synonyms

Noun

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

Verb

• beard
• brave
• brazen
• confront
• dare
• defy
• face
• outbrave
• outface

Examples of breast in a Sentence

Noun

My breast heaved with emotion.

a bird with an orange breast

I ordered the grilled breast of chicken.

a few slices of turkey breast

Do you prefer a breast or a leg?

Verb

I was at the race's finish line to see the winner breast the tape.

breasted the diagnosis of cancer with fortitude and optimism

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two of them investigated how menopausal hormone therapy affects the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, hip fractures and cognition. —Jean Wactawski-Wende, The Conversation, 2 May 2025

Thurston explained that she was first diagnosed with triple-positive stage 3 breast cancer. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 2 May 2025

Verb

How can breast cancer support groups help patients and survivors? —Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2024

Advertisement Cronin doesn’t feel like a marathoner who has breasted the tape so much as one in the middle of a race. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English brest, from Old English brēost; akin to Old High German brust breast, Old Irish brú belly, Russian bryukho

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing breast

• breast-beating
• breast drill
• breast-fed
• breast-feed
• breast-feeder
• breast-feeding
• chimney breast
• make a clean breast of
• pigeon breast

Rhymes for breast

• blessed
• blest
• chest
• crest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest
• messed

Kids Definition

breast

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrest 

1

: either of two milk-producing glands extending from the front of the chest in the human female and some other mammals

also : mammary gland

2

: the front part of the body between the neck and the abdomen

3

: the center of emotion

4

: something resembling a breast

breasted

ˈbres-təd 

adjective

breast

2 of 2 verb

: to face or oppose bravely : confront

breasted the waves

breast a storm

Medical Definition

breast

noun

ˈbrest 

1

: either of the pair of mammary glands extending from the front of the chest in pubescent and adult females of humans and some other mammals

also : either of the analogous but rudimentary organs of the male chest especially when enlarged

2

: the fore or ventral part of the body between the neck and the abdomen