breasts
breasts — noun
- breastssingular
- breastsesplural
1. the two rounded areas on a woman's upper front body that make milk for feeding b
the two rounded areas on a woman's upper front body that make milk for feeding babies
After giving birth, Lara noticed her breasts felt fuller and heavier than before.
collocation: breasts feel fuller / heavier
The nurse taught Iris how to check her breasts for unusual lumps once a month.
collocation: check breasts for lumps
Amani wore a sports bra to keep her breasts supported while she ran on the treadmill.
The midwife explained that a mother's breasts often feel sore during the first weeks of feeding.
Wren kept a diary and noticed her breasts felt tender and fuller about a week before each period started.
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'breasts' for this meaning. Subject is always female.
常見錯誤
2. the chest area of a bird or animal, below the neck and above the belly
the chest area of a bird or animal, below the neck and above the belly
The robins in Minho's garden had bright orange breasts that caught the morning light.
Through her binoculars, Mizuki spotted a male chaffinch whose breast glowed a warm pinkish red in the low sun.
collocation: [colour] breast
The vet examined the dog's breasts after the litter to check for any sign of infection.
At the hawk watch, Nkechi sketched each bird, noting whether the breast looked barred or pale.
- chest
broader term; used for both humans and animals without the specific 'front of a bird' connotation
用法筆記
Used mainly for birds and some mammals. The singular 'breast' is far more frequent for this sense; the plural 'breasts' appears when describing multiple animals at once.
3. meat cut from the chest of a bird such as a chicken or turkey, cooked and eaten
meat cut from the chest of a bird such as a chicken or turkey, cooked and eaten as food
Pedro picked up four chicken breasts from the supermarket for the family barbecue.
collocation: chicken breasts
Jenna set the oven low and basted the turkey breasts every half hour so the meat stayed tender and juicy.
Quan sliced the cold chicken breasts into thin strips for the children's lunch boxes.
Kabir grilled the duck breasts until the skin turned golden and the fat had crisped up nicely.
Tomás peeled the skin off each chicken breast, saying it had less fat that way.
- fillet
can refer to breast meat but is a broader term for any boneless cut of meat or fish
用法筆記
Almost always plural when referring to pieces of meat. Place the animal name before 'breasts': 'chicken breasts,' not 'breasts of chicken.'
常見錯誤
4. the front section of a shirt, jacket, or coat, covering the wearer's chest
the front section of a shirt, jacket, or coat, covering the wearer's chest
The tailor measured the breast of each jacket twice to get the fit exactly right.
collocation: breast of a jacket
Benjamin's coat had a small coffee stain right across the breast that refused to come out.
The designer added bright red stitching along the breasts of the new spring shirts.
The dry cleaner pointed out that the breasts of all three jackets had faded in the sun.
- chest
not typically used for the clothing part; 'breast' is standard for garments
用法筆記
Most commonly singular in everyday use ('the breast of the jacket'). The plural 'breasts' is used only when talking about the same part of several garments.
常見錯誤
5. the upper front area of a person's body, from the neck down to the stomach
the upper front area of a person's body, from the neck down to the stomach
Ilan felt a sudden sharp pain across his breast and sat down until it passed.
The young soldiers stood with their breasts bare as the medic checked for wounds.
Vikram beat his breast and promised the village elders he was telling the whole truth.
Eitan placed his hand over his breast and bowed deeply, a gesture of respect.
After the race, Cole bent forward, his breast heaving as he gasped for air.
- chest
the standard everyday word for the upper front of the human body
用法筆記
In everyday speech, 'chest' is far more common for this meaning. 'Breast' in this sense appears mainly in older or more formal language, and the plural 'breasts' is limited to describing multiple people at once.
常見錯誤
6. the imagined place deep inside a person where strong feelings and private though
the imagined place deep inside a person where strong feelings and private thoughts are felt (literary use)
A deep feeling of loss stirred in the old woman's breast as she read her son's final letter.
Pride swelled in the graduates' breasts as the head teacher called out each name.
pattern: [emotion] + swelled/rose in [possessive] breast(s)
Anger and sorrow fought inside the villagers' breasts as they watched their homes burn down.
Hope flickered in the refugees' breasts when they finally spotted the rescue boats on the horizon.
用法筆記
Literary or poetic usage only. In everyday English, people say 'in my heart' or 'deep inside' instead. Almost always singular in contemporary writing, though the plural 'breasts' can appear when the subject is a group.
常見錯誤
breasts — verb
- breastspresent simple I / you / we / they
- breastses3rd person singular
- breastsing-ing form
- breastsedpast simple
1. to move forward into something difficult or threatening instead of avoiding it
to move forward into something difficult or threatening instead of avoiding it
The little fishing boat breasted the rolling waves as the sky grew dark and angry.
pattern: breast + [waves]
Pedro breasted the fierce wind and pushed on toward the mountain hut before night fell.
The old swimmer breasted the current and reached the far bank after twenty hard minutes.
The young sailor breasted the stormy sea and somehow brought the damaged boat safely home.
文法句型
breast + [waves / wind / storm / challenge]
用法筆記
Literary register; rare in everyday speech. Takes a direct object that represents something being faced or pushed against (waves, wind, current, storm). Often used in descriptions of physical struggle against nature.
常見錯誤
2. to reach the highest point of a mountain or steep slope after a long climb
to reach the highest point of a mountain or steep slope after a long climb
The expedition breasted the summit at dawn and stood in silence watching the sunrise.
pattern: breast + [summit]
After seven hours of relentless climbing, the two friends breasted the steep ridge together.
Vikram breasted the final hill and saw the village lights twinkling in the valley below.
The two mountaineers breasted the sharp ridge and finally saw the valley stretching below.
文法句型
breast + [summit / ridge / hill]
用法筆記
Very rare, literary usage. Takes a direct object naming a summit, ridge, or hill. In everyday English, say 'reached the top of' or 'climbed to the summit of' instead.