breastbone

noun

breast·​bone ˈbres(t)-ˌbōn How to pronounce breastbone (audio)

Examples of breastbone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Heartburn is pain, discomfort or a burning sensation felt at the bottom of one's throat or in one's upper chest − usually just behind the breastbone. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 This feeling rises from behind the breastbone to the bottom of the throat. Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 Feb. 2024 Press firmly against the breastbone with the heel of your hand. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2023 Press against breastbone: Turn chicken breast side up, and open the underside of chicken like a book. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023 The force of compressions can shatter ribs and breastbones, puncture lungs, bruise the heart, and cause major blood vessels to rupture. Sunita Puri, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2023 Cancer may also be found in the bronchus, pleura, diaphragm, chest wall, breastbone, backbone, phrenic nerve, pericardium, vena cava, aorta, pharynx, trachea, esophagus, and/or carina (the area where the trachea branches into the bronchi). Lynne Eldridge, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2023 Flip chicken over, and press down on the breastbone to flatten it even further. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Dec. 2023 Pull the legs apart, place your hands on the breasts, and press firmly, cracking the breastbone so the bird lays flat. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breastbone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breastbone was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near breastbone

Cite this Entry

“Breastbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breastbone. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

breastbone

noun
breast·​bone ˈbres(t)-ˈbōn How to pronounce breastbone (audio)
-ˌbōn

Medical Definition

breastbone

noun
breast·​bone ˈbres(t)-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn How to pronounce breastbone (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on breastbone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!