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midriff

 - 6 dictionary results

mid⋅riff

  [mid-rif]
Use midriff in a Sentence
–noun
1. diaphragm (def. 1).
2. the middle part of the body, between the chest and the waist.
3. the part of a dress or bodice, usually close-fitting, that covers this part of the body.
4. a garment that exposes this part of the body.
–adjective
5. noting or pertaining to the middle part of the human body, the part of a garment that covers it, or a garment that exposes it.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME mydryf, OE midhrif, equiv. to mid(d) mid 1 + hrif belly
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To midriff
di·a·phragm   (dī'ə-frām')   
n.  

  1. Anatomy A muscular membranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and functioning in respiration. Also called midriff.

  2. A membranous part that divides or separates.

  3. A thin disk, especially in a microphone or telephone receiver, that vibrates in response to sound waves to produce electric signals, or that vibrates in response to electric signals to produce sound waves.

  4. A contraceptive device consisting of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber, that is designed to cover the uterine cervix to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.

  5. A disk having a fixed or variable opening used to restrict the amount of light traversing a lens or optical system.


[Middle English diafragma, from Late Latin diaphragma, midriff, from Greek, partition, from diaphrassein, to barricade : dia-, intensive pref.; see dia- + phrassein, phrag-, to enclose.]
di'a·phrag·mat'ic (-frāg-māt'ĭk) adj., di'a·phrag·mat'i·cal·ly adv.
mid·riff   (mĭd'rĭf)   
n.  

  1. See diaphragm.

  2. The middle outer portion of the front of the human body, extending roughly from just below the breast to the waistline.


[Middle English midrif, from Old English midhrif : midd, mid; see mid1 + hrif, belly; see kwrep- in Indo-European roots.]
mid'riff adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

midriff 
O.E. midhrif, from mid "mid" + hrif "belly," from P.Gmc. *hrefiz- (cf. O.H.G. href, O.Fris. hrif "belly"), from PIE *kwrep- "body, form, appearance" (see corporeal). More or less obsolete after 18c. except in phrase to tickle (one's) midriff "to cause laughter," the word revived 1941 in fashion usage for "portion of a woman's garment that covers the belly, as a euphemistic avoidance of belly, extended 1970 to a belly-baring style of women's top.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mid·riff
Pronunciation: 'mid-"rif
Function: noun
1 : DIAPHRAGM1
2 : the mid-region of the human torso
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

midriff mid·riff (mĭd'rĭf)
n.
See diaphragm.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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