Definition of breast in English:

breast

noun

1Either of the two soft, protruding organs on the upper front of a woman's body which secrete milk after childbirth.
‘Caroline crossed her arms over her breasts’
as modifier ‘breast cancer’
- ‘All had terminal cancer of the breast, lung, gastrointestinal system or prostate gland.’
- ‘You may notice pink, red or purple streaks along your abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks or thighs.’
- ‘The most researched cancers are those of the bowel, breast, endometrium, prostate, testes, and lung.’
- ‘Site-specific increases were noted for cancers of the breast, stomach, lung/larynx, and ovary.’
- ‘Many organs in the body make ducts, including the breasts, liver, pancreas, salivary glands and eyes.’
- ‘Female breasts physiologically are mammary glands, designed to convey nourishment to newborn babies.’
- ‘Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in women, after cancer of the breast and colorectal cancer.’
- ‘And there's also some big news on the breast cancer fight front tonight.’
- ‘The breasts enlarge as the milk ducts and milk-producing cells develop.’
- ‘She shook her upper body, her breasts swinging.’
- ‘The physical reality is that women's breasts sag with childbirth and age, something that is unpreventable.’
- ‘Korean women usually do not pump their breast or store milk.’
- ‘Once your baby stops nursing, your breast milk will slowly dry up.’
- ‘Almost all medicines for depression can pass into your breast milk.’
- ‘Talk to your doctor about which medications might effect your breast milk.’
- ‘Some would argue that the only real function of the breast is to provide milk for the newborn.’
- ‘On examination a discrete lump was felt in the upper half of the breast.’
- ‘After the menopause, breasts may feel softer and less lumpy.’
- ‘It may also affect other areas of the body, particularly the elbows and the areas around the breasts.’
- ‘The blanket was only just barely covering her breasts, and he cast his eyes aside immediately.’
mammary gland, mamma
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2A person's chest, especially when regarded as the seat of the emotions.
‘wild feelings of frustration were rising up in his breast’
‘her heart was hammering in her breast’
- ‘The growth can invade local tissues of the breast and chest wall as well as spread through the blood and lymphatic systems.’
- ‘She sat on the back seat, pressing the envelope to her breast.’
- ‘When he woke up, he found Maria sound asleep on his breast.’
- ‘Thinking to comfort her love, Seraph sat and cradled Heart to her breast, combing her hair to calm her.’
- ‘The parts of the body I mentioned most often were hand and breast, usually one on the other.’
heart, soul, bosom, seat of one's emotions, seat of one's feelings, innermost being, core
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1. 2.1The part of a bird or mammal that corresponds to a person's chest.
  as modifier ‘the breast feathers of the doves’
  ‘The young birds' breasts showed orange now as they looked hungrily to her, their eyes black and empty.’
  ‘Then it preened its scaly breast feathers with a wide beak.’
  ‘Be sure that it is the native pigeon, a large bird with white plumage on its breast.’
  ‘I also recommend that once the chick is weaned and independent, a microchip identification be placed into the breast muscle of the bird.’
  ‘He lets go of the bird, touching its breast for a heartbeat.’
  ‘He reached up and stroked her breast feathers with one finger and smiled, a pained look on his face forming.’
  ‘The passenger pigeon was an attractive bird with a blue back and a pink breast that existed in huge populations.’
  ‘The brooch was a jeweled bird of paradise with a large sapphire forming the bird's breast.’
  ‘The bird related the dragon's weak spot over his left breast.’
  ‘By now the bird's breast and legs are a brilliant shade of rose-pink.’
  ‘Then the brilliant crimson breast of an iiwi bird darts into view.’
  ‘A newborn rosie somewhat resembles a gray-speckled trout, with only a hint of the trademark pink breast.’
2. 2.2A joint of meat or portion of poultry cut from the breast of a bird or mammal.
  ‘Lisa popped a breast of chicken into the microwave’
  ‘Then for my entree: boneless fried chicken breasts, sweet potato fries, and noodle kugel.’
  ‘Plus, tuna has virtually zero saturated fat, which you can't say about red meat or even a breast of chicken.’
  ‘Season remaining three chicken breasts with salt and white pepper.’
  ‘I was ordering pallets full of skirt steaks and chicken breasts.’
  ‘Trim the chicken breasts and remove the tenderloins.’
  ‘Separate skin from meat on breast and back of chicken.’
  ‘On my first visit, I enjoyed a roasted breast of chicken served with mashed potatoes shot through with truffle oil and fresh morels.’
  ‘She suggests you eat fish and lean cuts of meat, such as skinless chicken and turkey breasts.’
  ‘Next, season the bird all over with salt and pepper, and lay the bacon over the breast with the rashers overlapping each other.’
  ‘Carve the legs into slices and cut the breast into fillets.’
  ‘Pheasant has virtually no fat so you will need to put fat bacon over its breast.’
  ‘Place breast and dark meat slices into labeled freezer bags.’
  ‘The food is excellent, and you cannot visit here without trying the duck breast.’
  ‘She probably eats sandwiches that aren't pressed turkey breast on white bread with mayonnaise as well.’
  ‘Our medium-size meal, based on an easy-to-roast turkey breast, is inspired by Persian flavors.’
  ‘Top each breast with one-quarter-cup sauce and three-quarter-ounce cheese.’
  ‘Starting the bird breast down, then turning it over to brown, didn't keep the meat any moister.’
  ‘Bruises on the birds' breasts and legs are something to watch out for, they can turn the flesh bitter.’
  ‘Remove the bacon from the birds' breasts and return them to the oven for 5 minutes.’
  ‘The goal in cooking a turkey is to get your bird cooked and beautifully browned without drying out the breast.’
3. 2.3The part of a garment that covers the chest.
  as modifier ‘a breast pocket’
  ‘She had half expected him to display the garment in the breast pocket of his jacket.’
  ‘The seven-year-old buried her head in Debbie's pajamas, soaking the breast pocket of her shirt.’
  ‘He stuffed his sunglasses into the breast pocket of his shirt as his eyes searched for her.’
  ‘They wore navy blue brimmed caps that matched the double breast pocket long sleeve uniforms they wore.’
  ‘He was dressed casually, wearing khaki cargo pants, a dark blue tee shirt with a single breast pocket, and brown hiking boots.’
  ‘I move them up to my breast pocket, letting them poke out just a little, like a handkerchief.’
  ‘Tight tops with short sleeves and breast pocket is detracting from your figure.’
  ‘She stuffs it into the breast pocket of his sports jacket.’
  ‘Donna rolled her eyes and snatched her sunglasses out of her breast pocket with a quick, skinny hand.’
  ‘He is dressed in leisure clothes, a neat logo on the breast pocket of his shirt.’
  ‘He picked up the bottle and shoved it into the breast pocket of his shirt, which lay crumpled on the night stand.’
  ‘Their badges were clipped on the left side of their shirts just above the breast pockets.’
  ‘He removed a pen tucked into his breast pocket and clicked it a few times.’
  ‘It is best known for the laurel logo on the left breast of polo-style shirts.’
  ‘Much clothing carries a clear indication of its trade origin in internal labels commonly on the neck-band or inside the breast.’
  ‘The school emblem on the left breast pocket and on the right sleeve looked classy together.’
  ‘There was a fake I.D. badge clipped to the lapel and the requisite pens in the breast pocket.’
  ‘Staten put down what he was carrying and put the bill in the breast pocket of his tweed jacket.’
  ‘The stranger was adorning a special emblem on each breast and shoulder.’
  ‘Golden silk was embroidered on the shoulders and the guild sign of the moon was placed on the left breast.’

verb

[with object]

1Face and move forwards against or through (something)
‘I watched him breast the wave’
- ‘On the Potomac, swan-white power launches keep breasting the sulphurous wave.’
- ‘Two huge English gals with shoulders like walruses breasted the waves in perfect unison.’
- ‘He breasted the finish line in five hours and two minutes.’
- ‘Gripping his crooked staff, the wizard breasted the gasps of indignation and began speaking in a powerful voice.’
- ‘It was the same feeling he had when breasting the traffic - a swimmer plunging into the crest of a wave would know what he meant.’
1. 1.1Reach the top of (a hill)
  ‘a pair of riders breasted the rise ahead’
  ‘It turned out to be the highlight of the expedition, the day they breasted the icecap.’
  ‘As the first rays of the sun breasted the peak of the mountain, the enemy slowed.’
  ‘The train made the climb and breasted the summit at a virtually steady 60 mph.’
  ‘Once I breasted the summit ridge a cold blast of wind hit me.’

Phrases

beat one's breast

Make an exaggerated show of sorrow, despair, or regret.
- ‘At the peak of her ambiguous angst, she beats her breast in sappy mourning upon the death of her father.’
- ‘I bet you are wailing and gnashing your teeth and beating your breast with many small whips as you ponder this.’
- ‘In contrast to Antony's desire to blame anyone but himself, Cleopatra spends much of her first speech beating her breast.’
- ‘He admits he has done wrong but refuses to beat his breast or elaborate on his plea.’
- ‘Let's all hope that the politician does more than beats his breast and really gives us an impartial look at corporate America.’