Chest
/tʃɛst/
nounA1
Definition
A chest is the upper front part of a person's or animal's body, where the ribs and heart are. It can also mean a large strong box used to keep important or valuable things safe.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
The part of the body between the neck and stomach
- •He felt pain in his chest after running.
- •She put her hand on her chest when she was surprised.
- •The doctor listened to his chest with a stethoscope.
A large strong box for storage
- •The old chest in the attic held family photos.
- •Pirates hid their treasure in a wooden chest.
- •She kept her clothes in a chest at the foot of her bed.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "chest" like "body" (A1 word), but it is a smaller part at the front, above the stomach.
- ✓Picture a person touching their chest when they feel their heartbeat or when they want to show feelings like surprise.
- ✓It's the place you feel your heart beating, like when you are excited or scared.
- ✓Sounds like "chest" → imagine a treasure chest full of gold and jewels, a big wooden box you can lock.
- ✓Remember pirate stories where they find a chest full of treasure on an island.
- ✓NOT like "back" (the opposite side of the body), chest is the front.
- ✓NOT like "box" in general; a chest is usually bigger and stronger, often with a lock.
- ✓NOT like "heart" (an organ inside the chest); chest is the outer part that covers the heart.
Try Other Words
- •Torso: the main part of the body without the head and limbs (Use when talking about the body generally, not just the front part)
- •Trunk: the body excluding head and limbs (Use in more formal or medical contexts)
- •Container: something that holds things (Use when talking about a chest as a box, but more general)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: single word, no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "cest," meaning a box or container
- •Historical development: Originally meant a box or chest for storing things; later also used for the body part because of its box-like shape
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to mean either the front body part or a large storage box, often wooden and strong
Reflect & Connect
•How do you show feelings using your chest or by touching it?
•What kinds of things would you keep in a chest if you had one?
Fill in the blanks
1.When someone feels pain in their chest, it can mean there is a problem with their ___ or lungs.
2.She placed her hand on her chest to show she was ___ by the kind words.
3.A treasure chest is usually ___ and made of wood or metal to keep things safe.
4.Unlike a small box, a chest is often ___ and stronger for storing heavy or important things.
5.The doctor used a stethoscope to listen to sounds coming from the patient's ___.
6.Pirates are famous for hiding gold and jewels in a ___ on secret islands.
7.When you breathe deeply, your chest ___ moves up and down to help air go in and out.