breast
gb/bɹˈɛst/ us/bɹˈɛst/
A2
English
~ 3000
mell, emlő, baromfimell, szembenéz, dacol, nekivág
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s breast
The baby was cradled against her breast.
A babát a melléhez ölelte.
She found a lump in her breast during a self-exam.
Önvizsgálat közben csomót talált a mellében.
The dress had a low neckline that showed part of her breast.
Learner examples
The baby is drinking milk from her breast.
A baba a melléből szopik.
She has pain in her left breast.
Fáj a bal melle.
He put his hand on his chest, near his breast.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'breast' with 'chest', but 'breast' usually refers to the front part and is often used for women.
Meaning
Front of chest, esp. in women
Collocations
breast cancer
|breast milk
|breast feeding
|bare breast
Synonyms
chest (More general; refers to the entire front of the upper body, not specifically the mammary area.)
Antonyms
back (Refers to the opposite side of the torso from the breast.)
Themes
anatomy
|health
|daily life
|body
Definition
The front part of the chest, especially in women, where milk is made for babies.
The front part of the human chest, especially the mammary glands of a woman.
NOUN
A2
2
mell
A2
baromfimell
B2
Usage pattern:
[animal] breast
I ordered grilled chicken breast for lunch.
Ebédre grillezett csirkemellet rendeltem.
Turkey breast is leaner than other cuts.
A pulykamell soványabb, mint más húsrészek.
The chef stuffed the duck breast with herbs.
Learner examples
I like chicken breast with rice.
Szeretem a csirkemellet rizzsel.
He cooked a turkey breast for dinner.
Egy pulykamellet sütött vacsorára.
Duck breast is very tasty.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'breast' in this sense is mainly used for birds and poultry meat.
Meaning
Bird's chest area or meat
Collocations
chicken breast
|turkey breast
|duck breast
Synonyms
white meat (Refers to the lighter-colored meat from poultry, often including but not limited to the breast.)
Antonyms
thigh (Refers to another cut of meat from poultry, located on the leg.)
Themes
food
|animals
|food_drink
Definition
The front part of a bird's body, often eaten as meat.
The front chest area of a bird, especially when referring to it as food.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
to breast [something]
The climber breasted the steep slope with determination.
A hegymászó elszántan nekivágott a meredek hegyoldalnak.
They breasted the storm to reach safety.
Dacoltak a viharral, hogy biztonságba jussanak.
She breasted the strong current in the river.
Learner examples
He breasted the cold wind.
Dacolva haladt a hideg széllel szemben.
They breasted the hill together.
Együtt vágtak neki az emelkedőnek.
She breasted the big wave.
Common mistake:
Learners may not encounter this verb form often; it's more common in literary descriptions than in everyday speech.
Meaning
Face and confront something
Collocations
breast the waves
|breast the storm
Synonyms
confront (More common; used in everyday contexts for facing problems or people directly.)
Antonyms
avoid (Means to stay away from or not face something.)
Themes
challenge
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go against something difficult or dangerous without fear.
To face and deal bravely with something difficult or dangerous.
Grammar
Dictionary form
breast
IPA
GB/bɹˈɛst/
US/bɹˈɛst/
Syllables & stress
breast (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (breast)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: breast
- Plural: breasts
Verb
- Base: breast
- 3rd Person Singular: breasts
- Present Participle: breasting
- Past: breasted
Word family
Forms
breasts
noun
breasting
verb
breasted
verb
Core family
breastfeed
verb
breastfeeding
noun
Related words
breastbone
noun
breaststroke
noun
Advanced or less common
mammary
adjective
Expressions
breast cancer
1/bɹˈɛst kˈænsɚ/
fixed phrase
Cancer in mammary glands
A serious illness where cells in the breast grow in a dangerous way.
Examples
- Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women.
- She is raising money for breast cancer research.
breast milk
1/bɹˈɛst mˈɪlk/
fixed phrase
Milk from human breasts for babies
Milk made by a woman's body to feed her baby.
Examples
- Breast milk contains important nutrients for babies.
- Some mothers store breast milk for later use.
breast milk
3/bɹˈɛst mˈɪlk/
fixed phrase
human milk for a baby
a mother’s milk for her baby
Examples
- The nurse explained how to store breast milk safely.
- Some babies drink breast milk from a bottle.
Learner examples
- She pumps breast milk before going to work.
breast pocket
1/bɹˈɛst pˈɑkət/
fixed phrase
Upper front pocket on clothing
A small pocket on the top front of a shirt or jacket.
Examples
- He kept a pen in his breast pocket.
- The ticket was folded neatly in his breast pocket.
breastfeed
1/bɹˈɛstfid/
fixed phrase
Feed baby from breast
To give a baby milk from a woman's breast.
Examples
- She decided to breastfeed her newborn.
- Many health experts recommend breastfeeding for at least six months.
make a clean breast of it
1/mˈeɪk ə klˈin bɹˈɛst əv ˈɪt/
idiom
Admit something honestly
To tell the truth about something you did wrong or kept secret.
Examples
- He made a clean breast of it and confessed to his mistake.
- It's best to make a clean breast of it before they find out.