breast

breast [brest]

n.

[ME brest < OE breost < IE base * bhreus-, to swell, sprout]

1. either of two milk-secreting glands protruding from the upper, front part of a woman's body

2. a corresponding gland in a female primate

3. a corresponding undeveloped gland in the male

4. figuratively, a source of nourishment

5.

a) the front part of a person's chest

b) the corresponding part of some animals, as a bird or lamb

6. the part of a garment, etc. that is over the breast

7. the breast regarded as the center of emotions

8. anything likened to the breast [the breast of the sea]

9. Mining the face that is being worked at the end of an excavation or tunnel

vt.

1. to oppose the breast to; face

2. to face or meet firmly; move forward against

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beat one's breast

to make an exaggerated display of one's feelings of guilt, remorse, etc.

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make a clean breast of

to confess (guilt, etc.) fully

SYN.- BREAST refers to the front part of the human torso from the shoulders to the abdomen, or it designates either of the female mammary glands; BOSOM refers to the entire human breast but, except in euphemistic applications [a big- bosomed matron ], is now more common in figurative usage, where it implies the human breast as a source of feeling, a protective, loving enclosure, etc. [the bosom of his family ]; BUST¹, as considered here, almost always implies the female breasts and is the conventional term in referring to silhouette, form, etc., as in garment fitting, beauty contests, etc.