ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pectoral

n.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈpɛktɝəɫ// UK //pˈɛktəɹəl// pec·toral Archaic

n. a large, flat muscle on the front of your chest. It helps you move your arms forward and across your body.

n. a large, triangular muscle situated on the anterior surface of the thorax. In a zoological context, it refers to the corresponding muscle in birds and other animals, often associated with flight.


SIMPLE

The pectoral muscle is very strong in swimmers.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete's training program focuses heavily on strengthening the pectoral muscles to improve his bench press performance.

COMPLEX

In avian anatomy, the pectoral muscles are divided into two distinct groups: the large, powerful muscles responsible for the downstroke of flight and the smaller ones that handle the upstroke.

Synonyms
Origin

All senses are ultimately from Latin pectorālis, but some may have come through Old French and Middle English.

© 2026 English Reference