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breast

verb

  1. face, move up against, move abreast another entity
L331010 on Wikidata ↗

noun

  1. region of the torso of a primate containing the mammary gland
L9707 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /bɹɛst/ / /bɹest/ / /bɾɛst/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *breustą Proto-West Germanic *breust Old English brēost Middle English brest English breast 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.

  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.

    Biblical criteria of sexual seductiveness include a white skin, black hair, or henna-dyed, scarlet lips, a prominent nose, rosy temples, long straight neck, firm breasts, round thighs, an erect posture.

  2. The chest, or front of the human thorax.

    The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, / For he heard the loud bassoon.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

    He has a loyal breast.

  5. The ventral portion of an animal’s thorax.

    The robin has a red breast.

  6. 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?

  7. The front or forward part of anything.

    chimney breast

    plough breast

  8. The upper surface of a landform or body of water.

    Mountains on whose barren breast / The labouring clouds do often rest.

    […] In the distance the flowing glaze, the breast of the river, with a wind-dapple here and there, […]

  9. The face of a coal working.
  10. The front of a furnace.
  11. The power of singing; a musical voice.

    By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast.

  12. The breaststroke.

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *breustą Proto-West Germanic *breust Old English brēost Middle English brest English breast 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.

  1. To push against with the breast; to meet full on, oppose, face.

    […]when the court, very much to the credit of their candour and firmness, breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer.

  2. To reach the top of (a hill or other prominence).

    He breasted the hill and saw the town before him.

    Vera Nugent, a brisk woman of the world, with a fondness for vivid clothing and a Spanish air which went oddly with it, took the trouble one fine day to tackle her brother. “Look here, Jimmy," she said as they breasted a mountain pass, “are you quite sure what you are up to with these people?”

  3. To debreast.

    Breast the birds; wash and dry well. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the birds in a roasting pan.