chest

UK: /ˈtʃɛst/ US: /tʃɛst/ ,(chest)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

chest /tʃɛst/   n. [countable]

1. Anatomy the front portion of the body enclosed by the ribs; thorax:
   The policeman had been shot in the chest.
2. Furniture a box, usually with a lid, for storage, safekeeping of valuables, shipping, etc.
3. Furniture chest of drawers.
4. Furniture a small cabinet, esp. one hung on a wall, for storage, as for medicines, etc.:
   the top shelf of the medicine chest.

Idioms

5. Idioms get something off one's chest, [ get + obj + off + one's + ~] to discuss a problem that one has kept to oneself:
   I've got to get this worry off my chest.

chest•ful /ˈtʃɛstfʊl/  n. [countable] , pl. -fuls:

was wearing a chestful of medals.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

chest  (chest), n. 

1. Anatomy the trunk of the body from the neck to the abdomen; thorax.
2. a box, usually with a lid, for storage, safekeeping of valuables, etc.:
   a toy chest; a jewelry chest.
3. Business the place where the funds of a public institution or charitable organization are kept;
   treasury;
   coffer.
4. Business the funds themselves.
5. a box in which certain goods, as tea, are packed for transit.
6. the quantity contained in such a box:
   a chest of spices.
7. Furniture See chest of drawers. 
8. Furniture a small cabinet, esp. one hung on a wall, for storage, as of toiletries and medicines:
   a medicine chest.
9. Idioms get (something) off one's chest, [Informal.] to relieve oneself of (problems, troubling thoughts, etc.) by revealing them to someone.
10. Idioms play it close to the chest. See vest (def. 8).

• Greek kístē box
• Latin cista
• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English cest, cist

chest•ful  (chest′fŏŏl), n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chest / tʃɛst/ noun

1. the front part of the trunk from the neck to the belly
   Related adjective(s): pectoral
2. (as modifier): a chest cold
3. get something off one's chest ⇒ to unburden oneself of troubles, worries, etc, by talking about them
4. a box, usually large and sturdy, used for storage or shipping: a tea chest

Etymology: Old English cest, from Latin cista wooden box, basket, from Greek kistē box

ˈchested adjective