chest
n. · v.-
1 body part (n.) A2 Elementary Medicinethe front part of your body between your neck and your stomach.
the part of the human body enclosed by the ribs and sternum, extending from the neck to the abdomen.
ExampleHe felt a sharp pain in his chest while he was running up the stairs.
ExampleThe physician used a stethoscope to monitor the patient's breathing, listening carefully to different areas across the upper chest.
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2 storage box (n.) B1 Intermediatea large, strong box with a lid, often used for keeping things safe or for shipping goods.
a large, heavy container with a lid, typically made of wood or metal, used for storage or transport.
ExampleThe old wooden chest in the attic was filled with dusty books and clothes.
ExampleThe museum displayed a sixteenth-century sea chest, reinforced with iron bands to protect the valuables of sailors during long voyages.
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3 breasts (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Formala polite or indirect way to talk about a woman's breasts.
a euphemistic reference to the female breasts, often used in medical or formal contexts to avoid more blunt terminology.
ExampleThe doctor asked her if she had noticed any changes in her chest area.
ExampleIn certain formal or clinical descriptions, the term chest is preferred over more anatomical or colloquial words when referring to female patients.
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4 to hit with the torso (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Sportto hit or control a ball using the front of your body.
to intercept, control, or propel a ball using the upper torso.
ExampleThe player managed to chest the ball down before taking a shot at the goal.
ExampleThe striker expertly chested the high pass into his own path, maintaining momentum despite the pressure from the opposing defenders.
UsageThe verb is transitive and takes the ball as its object.
From Middle English cheste, chiste, from Old English ċest, ċist (“chest, casket; coffin; rush basket; box”), from Proto-West Germanic *kistu (“chest, box”), from Latin cista (“chest, box”), from Ancient Greek κίστη (kístē, “chest, box, basket, hamper”).
From Middle English chest, cheste, cheeste, cheaste, from Old English ċēast, ċēas (“strife, quarrel, quarrelling, contention, murmuring, sedition, scandal; reproof”). Related to Old Frisian kāse (“strife, contention”), Old Saxon caest (“quarrel, dispute”), Old High German kōsa (“speech, story, account”).