# breast

/ˈbɹɛst/ (US) · /bɹˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breast
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. anatomy

noun · CEFR B1

one of the two soft parts on a woman's chest that can produce milk.

For teachers: either of the two mammary glands on the upper anterior of the female thorax.

- The doctor showed her how to check for any unusual lumps in her breast.
- Early detection of abnormalities in breast tissue significantly improves the success rate of subsequent medical interventions.

### 2. meat/cooking

noun · CEFR A2

meat from the front part of a bird or animal, like a chicken.

For teachers: a cut of meat from the chest of a bird or animal, valued for being lean.

- She grilled a chicken breast and served it with a fresh salad.
- The chef recommended poaching the turkey breast at a low temperature to ensure the meat remained moist and tender.

### 3. the chest area

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

the front part of a person's body between the neck and the stomach.

For teachers: the anterior surface of the human thorax.

- He held the crying child close to his breast to comfort him.
- The soldier clutched the locket against his breast, drawing strength from the portrait inside during the long night watch.

### 4. seat of emotion

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

your heart or inner feelings.

For teachers: the figurative seat of one's innermost thoughts, secrets, or emotions.

- Hope began to grow again within her breast after she heard the news.
- The poet spoke of the dark secrets hidden within the human breast, which no law or logic could ever fully tame.

### 5. swimming

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short way of saying the breaststroke.

For teachers: a clipping of breaststroke, referring to the swimming style performed on the chest.

- She won the gold medal in the 100-metre breast.
- Despite being a strong freestyler, he struggled to maintain his pace during the breast leg of the individual medley.

### 6. to reach the top

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to reach the top of a hill or a wave.

For teachers: to reach the crest or summit of a physical feature such as a hill or wave.

- As they breasted the hill, the entire valley came into view.
- The hikers finally breasted the ridge just as the first rays of sunlight began to illuminate the peaks across the canyon.

### 7. to face or oppose

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to push through or face something difficult directly.

For teachers: to struggle against or confront an obstacle directly; to meet full on.

- The small boat breasted the waves as it headed out to sea.
- The explorers had to breast the icy winds for three days before reaching the safety of the base camp.

## Examples

- The chef prepares the chicken breast with lemon and herbs.
- The doctor advised the patient to perform regular self-examinations of the breast to check for any unusual lumps.
- The poet described the hero's courage as a fire burning within his breast, using the anatomical location as a metaphor for the seat of human emotion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.