pec

noun

ˈpek 

plural pecs ˈpeks 

informal

: a muscle connecting the ventral walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder : pectoral muscle

—usually plural

His muscular pecs and biceps were vestiges of his short, happy life as a pro triathlete.

—Austin Murphy

Hunky Patrick Swayze got to flex his pecs as a surfer in Point Break …

—Jim Harwood

In this totally enjoyable film, Schwarzenegger is witty, charming, subtle, tough and most impressive—a Cary Grant with pecs.

—Ralph Novak

Examples of pec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The movement may be most closely associated with the sport and Beck’s position, in particular — the overhead throwing motion — is what Lee told him was the likely cause, the pec muscles contracting on the artery and then potentially sending particles of a blood clot down the arm. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024

The pec major is responsible for adduction of the arm (movement in toward the body's midline) and rotation of the arm forward, while the pec minor is responsible for moving your ribs and shoulders. —Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023

The pec major is bigger, and sits above the pec minor. —Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023

The Chest Muscles, Explained The chest is made up of the pec major, pec minor, and serratus anterior. —Women's Health Editors, Women's Health, 14 June 2023

For Étude Pour Sébastien, Greenberg’s nearly five-hour-long nighttime performance in the museum’s illustrious halls, the artist wore black sclera lenses, full body paint, and three metal arrows, which pierced his pec, shoulder, and ribs. —Stephanie Sporn, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 May 2023

Many trainers view the pec major as having the three regions mentioned above, but that doesn't mean there's a lower chest muscle sitting all on its own, waiting to be targeted by the perfect move. —Brett Williams, Men's Health, 28 Feb. 2023

Jacob Phillips is on IR after suffering a pec injury. —Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 9 Nov. 2022

Another standout feature of Fagan’s pec workout? —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 13 Jan. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

pec

noun

ˈpek 

: pectoralis

—usually used in plural

Geographical Definition

Peć

geographical name

ˈpech 

variants or Pejë

ˈpā-ə 

town in western Kosovo that was the seat of the patriarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Middle Ages population 49,000