breast
/brest/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- The front part of the body between the neck and the abdomen; the chest: This is the general area on a human or animal.
- Either of the two soft, protruding organs on the chest of a human female that contain milk-producing glands: This is the specific anatomical feature for feeding offspring.
- A cut of meat from the front part of a bird, especially a chicken or turkey: This is a common culinary term.
- The part of a garment that covers the chest: This usage is often found in tailoring or clothing descriptions.
- The seat of emotion; the heart or feelings (literary): This is a figurative, often poetic, use.
Verb:
- To confront or face something boldly and directly: This implies meeting a challenge head-on.
- To reach the top of something, such as a hill or wave: This describes the action of arriving at the summit or crest.
- To touch or push against something with the chest: This describes a physical action.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- He clutched the book to his breast. (He held the book tightly against his chest.)
- She is breastfeeding her newborn baby. (She is feeding her baby from her breast.)
- We're having roast chicken breast for dinner. (We are eating the meat from the front of a chicken.)
- The soldier proudly wore medals on his breast. (The medals were on the front of his uniform over his chest.)
- Anger burned in his breast. (He felt intense anger in his heart.)
Verb:
- The ship breasted the powerful waves. (The ship met and moved through the large waves directly.)
- The runners breasted the tape at the finish line. (The runners reached and touched the finish line with their chests.)
- After a long climb, they finally breasted the hill. (They finally reached the top of the hill.)
Advanced Usage
"To make a clean breast of (something)": To confess something fully, especially a wrongdoing.
- He decided to make a clean breast of his mistakes to his boss. (He decided to confess all his mistakes.)
"Child at the breast": A baby that is still being breastfed.
- The clinic provides support for mothers with a child at the breast. (The clinic helps mothers who are breastfeeding.)
Variants and Related Words
- Breastbone (noun): The bone in the center of the chest (sternum).
- Breastplate (noun): A piece of armor covering the chest.
- Breaststroke (noun): A swimming style where the arms move in a circular motion in front of the chest.
- Breastfeed (verb): To feed a baby with milk from the breast.
- Breastwork (noun): A low defensive wall or parapet.
Synonyms
- Noun (Chest): Thorax, torso (front part).
- Noun (Bosom): Bosom, bust (often used more politely or poetically for a woman's breasts).
- Verb (Confront): Face, confront, tackle, meet head-on.
- Verb (Reach the top): Summit, crest, top.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Breast oneself against/for: To brace or prepare oneself to face something difficult. (This is a less common, literary construction).
- She breasted herself for the bad news. (She prepared herself emotionally to receive the bad news.)
Related Idioms
- To beat one's breast: To express grief, guilt, or anger openly and dramatically.
- He beat his breast in remorse after realizing his error. (He showed great public remorse.)
- A troubled breast: A state of emotional distress or anxiety (literary).
- The sad news left her with a troubled breast. (The news caused her deep emotional distress.)
Noun
- the part of an animal's body that corresponds to a person's chest
- meat carved from the breast of a fowl
- either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman
- the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
- he beat his breast in anger
Verb
- confront bodily
- breast the storm
- reach the summit (of a mountain)
- They breasted the mountain
- Many mountaineers go up Mt. Everest but not all summit
- meet at breast level
- The runner breasted the tape