Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter B - Page 79

Breast (n.) The fore part of the body, between the neck and the belly; the chest; as, the breast of a man or of a horse.

Breast (n.) Either one of the protuberant glands, situated on the front of the chest or thorax in the female of man and of some other mammalia, in which milk is secreted for the nourishment of the young; a mamma; a teat.

Breast (n.) Anything resembling the human breast, or bosom; the front or forward part of anything; as, a chimney breast; a plow breast; the breast of a hill.

Breast (n.) The face of a coal working.

Breast (n.) The front of a furnace.

Breast (n.) The seat of consciousness; the repository of thought and self-consciousness, or of secrets; the seat of the affections and passions; the heart.

Breast (n.) The power of singing; a musical voice; -- so called, probably, from the connection of the voice with the lungs, which lie within the breast.

Breasted (imp. & p. p.) of Breast

Breasting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Breast

Breast (v. t.) To meet, with the breast; to struggle with or oppose manfully; as, to breast the storm or waves.

Breastband (n.) A band for the breast. Specifically: (Naut.) A band of canvas, or a rope, fastened at both ends to the rigging, to support the man who heaves the lead in sounding.

Breastbeam (n.) The front transverse beam of a locomotive.

Breastbone (n.) The bone of the breast; the sternum.

Breast-deep (a.) Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast.

Breasted (a.) Having a breast; -- used in composition with qualifying words, in either a literal or a metaphorical sense; as, a single-breasted coat.

Breastfast (n.) A large rope to fasten the midship part of a ship to a wharf, or to another vessel.

Breastheight (n.) The interior slope of a fortification, against which the garrison lean in firing.

Breast-high (a.) High as the breast.

Breasthook (n.) A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side.

Breasting (n.) The curved channel in which a breast wheel turns. It is closely adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a quarter of its circumference, and prevents the escape of the water until it has spent its force upon the wheel. See Breast wheel.

Breastknot (n.) A knot of ribbons worn on the breast.

Breastpin (n.) A pin worn on the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a brooch.

Breastplate (n.) A plate of metal covering the breast as defensive armor.

Breastplate (n.) A piece against which the workman presses his breast in operating a breast drill, or other similar tool.

Breastplate (n.) A strap that runs across a horse's breast.

Breastplate (n.) A part of the vestment of the high priest, worn upon the front of the ephod. It was a double piece of richly embroidered stuff, a span square, set with twelve precious stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Ephod.

Breastplow (n.) Alt. of Breastplough

Breastplough (n.) A kind of plow, driven by the breast of the workman; -- used to cut or pare turf.

Breastrail (n.) The upper rail of any parapet of ordinary height, as of a balcony; the railing of a quarter-deck, etc.

Breastrope (n.) See Breastband.

Breastsummer (n.) A summer or girder extending across a building flush with, and supporting, the upper part of a front or external wall; a long lintel; a girder; -- used principally above shop windows.

Breastwheel (n.) A water wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so high as in the overshot wheel, nor so low as in the undershot, but generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in contact with it by the breasting. The water acts on the float boards partly by impulse, partly by its weight.

Breastwork (n.) A defensive work of moderate height, hastily thrown up, of earth or other material.

Breastwork (n.) A railing on the quarter-deck and forecastle.

Breath (n.) The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration; air which, in the process of respiration, has parted with oxygen and has received carbonic acid, aqueous vapor, warmth, etc.

Breath (n.) The act of breathing naturally or freely; the power or capacity to breathe freely; as, I am out of breath.

Breath (n.) The power of respiration, and hence, life.

Breath (n.) Time to breathe; respite; pause.

Breath (n.) A single respiration, or the time of making it; a single act; an instant.

Breath (n.) Fig.: That which gives or strengthens life.

Breath (n.) A single word; the slightest effort; a trifle.

Breath (n.) A very slight breeze; air in gentle motion.

Breath (n.) Fragrance; exhalation; odor; perfume.

Breath (n.) Gentle exercise, causing a quicker respiration.

Breathable (a.) Such as can be breathed.

Breathableness (n.) State of being breathable.

Breathed (imp. & p. p.) of Breathe

Breathing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Breathe

Breathe (v. i.) To respire; to inhale and exhale air; hence;, to live.

Breathe (v. i.) To take breath; to rest from action.

Breathe (v. i.) To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to exhale; to emanate; to blow gently.

Breathe (v. t.) To inhale and exhale in the process of respiration; to respire.

Breathe (v. t.) To inject by breathing; to infuse; -- with into.

Breathe (v. t.) To emit or utter by the breath; to utter softly; to whisper; as, to breathe a vow.

Breathe (v. t.) To exhale; to emit, as breath; as, the flowers breathe odors or perfumes.

Breathe (v. t.) To express; to manifest; to give forth.

Breathe (v. t.) To act upon by the breath; to cause to sound by breathing.

Breathe (v. t.) To promote free respiration in; to exercise.

Breathe (v. t.) To suffer to take breath, or recover the natural breathing; to rest; as, to breathe a horse.

Breathe (v. t.) To put out of breath; to exhaust.

Breathe (v. t.) To utter without vocality, as the nonvocal consonants.

Breather (n.) One who breathes. Hence: (a) One who lives.(b) One who utters. (c) One who animates or inspires.

Breather (n.) That which puts one out of breath, as violent exercise.

Breathful (a.) Full of breath; full of odor; fragrant.

Breathing (n.) Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.

Breathing (n.) Air in gentle motion.

Breathing (n.) Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration; as, the breathings of the Spirit.

Breathing (n.) Aspiration; secret prayer.

Breathing (n.) Exercising; promotion of respiration.

Breathing (n.) Utterance; communication or publicity by words.

Breathing (n.) Breathing place; vent.

Breathing (n.) Stop; pause; delay.

Breathing (n.) Also, in a wider sense, the sound caused by the friction of the outgoing breath in the throat, mouth, etc., when the glottis is wide open; aspiration; the sound expressed by the letter h.

Breathing (n.) A mark to indicate aspiration or its absence. See Rough breathing, Smooth breathing, below.

Breathless (a.) Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.

Breathless (a.) Not breathing; holding the breath, on account of fear, expectation, or intense interest; attended with a holding of the breath; as, breathless attention.

Breathless (a.) Dead; as, a breathless body.

Breathlessly (adv.) In a breathless manner.

Breathlessness (n.) The state of being breathless or out of breath.

Breccia (n.) A rock composed of angular fragments either of the same mineral or of different minerals, etc., united by a cement, and commonly presenting a variety of colors.

Brecciated (a.) Consisting of angular fragments cemented together; resembling breccia in appearance.

Bred () imp. & p. p. of Breed.

Brede (n.) Alt. of Breede

Breede (n.) Breadth.

Brede (n.) A braid.

Breech (n.) The lower part of the body behind; the buttocks.

Breech (n.) Breeches.

Breech (n.) The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other firearm, behind the chamber.

Breech (n.) The external angle of knee timber, the inside of which is called the throat.

Breeched (imp. & p. p.) of Breech

Breeching (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Breech

Breech (v. t.) To put into, or clothe with, breeches.

Breech (v. t.) To cover as with breeches.

Breech (v. t.) To fit or furnish with a breech; as, to breech a gun.

Breech (v. t.) To whip on the breech.

Breech (v. t.) To fasten with breeching.

Breechblock (n.) The movable piece which closes the breech of a breech-loading firearm, and resists the backward force of the discharge. It is withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before the gun is fired.

Breechcloth (n.) A cloth worn around the breech.

Breeches (n. pl.) A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.

Breeches (n. pl.) Trousers; pantaloons.

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