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8 dictionary results for: pectoral

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pec·to·ral

[pek-ter-uh

l] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	of, in, on, or pertaining to the chest or breast; thoracic.

2.	worn on the breast or chest.

3.	proceeding from the heart or inner consciousness.

4.	Speech. (of a vocal quality) appearing to come from resonance in the chest; full or deep.

5.	of or for diseases of the lungs.

–noun

6.	Anatomy. a pectoral part or organ, as a pectoral muscle.

7.	pectoral fin.

8.	something worn on the breast for ornament, protection, etc., as a breastplate.

[Origin: 1400–50; (n.) late ME < L pectorāle, n. use of neut. of pectorālis of the breast (pector-, s. of pectus breast + -ālis -al¹); (adj.) < L pectorālis

]

—Related forms

pec·to·ral·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pec·to·ral (pěk'tər-əl) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Relating to or situated in the breast or chest: a pectoral muscle; the pectoral cavity.
Useful in relieving disorders of the chest or respiratory tract.
Worn on the chest or breast: a pectoral cross.

A muscle or organ of the chest.
A pectoral fin.
A medicine for relieving disorders of the chest or respiratory tract.
An ornament or decoration worn on the chest.

[Probably Latin pectorālis, from pectus, pector-, breast. N., sense 4, Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pectorāle, breastplate, from neuter of pectorālis.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pectoral (adj.)

1578, "pertaining to the breast," from L. pectoralis "of the breast," from pectus (gen. pectoris) "breast, chest." The noun, short for pectoral muscle, is attested from 1758. Slang noun pec is first recorded 1966.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

pectoral
adjective
1.	of or relating to the chest or thorax; "pectoral organ"
noun
1.	either of two large muscles of the chest
2.	an adornment worn on the chest or breast

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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pectoral (pěk'tər-əl) Pronunciation Key

Located in or attached to the chest, as a pectoral fin or a pectoral muscle.

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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pectoral pec·to·ral (pěk'tər-əl)
adj.

Relating to or situated in the breast or chest.
Useful in relieving disorders of the chest or respiratory tract.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pectoral

Pec"to*ral\, a. [L. pectoralis, fr. pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.]

1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.

2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.

3. (Zo["o]l.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper.

Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side.

Pectorial cross (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons.

Pectorial fins, or Pectorials (Zo["o]l.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin.

Pectorial rail. (Zo["o]l.) See Land rail (b) under Land.

Pectorial sandpiper (Zo["o]l.), the jacksnipe (b) .

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pectoral

Pec"to*ral\, n. [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectorials.]

1. A covering or protecting for the breast.

2. (Eccl.) (a) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. (b) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast.

3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.

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