bosom

1 of 3

noun

bos·​om ˈbu̇-zəm How to pronounce bosom (audio)
 also  ˈbü-
1
a
: the human chest and especially the front part of the chest
hugged the child to his bosom
b
: a woman's breasts regarded especially as a single feature
a woman with an ample bosom
also : breast
a woman's bosoms
2
a
: the chest conceived of as the seat of the emotions and intimate feelings
a story you will take to your bosom
b
: the security and intimacy of or like that of being hugged to someone's bosom
the bosom of her family
3
: the part of a garment that covers the chest or the breasts

bosom

2 of 3

verb

bosomed; bosoming; bosoms

transitive verb

1
: to enclose in or as if in an embrace
a Gothic, moss-grown structure, half bosomed in treesT. L. Peacock
2
: to enclose or carry in the bosom (see bosom entry 1)
she bosomed her letterE. P. O'Donnell

bosom

3 of 3

adjective

: close, intimate
bosom friends

Examples of bosom in a Sentence

Noun He clutched the flowers to his bosom. He never spoke of his childhood as an orphan, but kept dark memories of those days in his bosom. The shirt has a plain color and ruffles at the bosom. Verb bosomed by overgrown shrubbery, the abandoned cottage seemed like the ideal place for an afternoon tryst Adjective promised to remain bosom friends for the rest of their lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But Messi, like Beckham, before him is different, the best of the best in a sport the U.S. has yet to pull to its bosom. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 The effect was not unlike that of the Wonderbra of the 1990s—a decade that incidentally saw a frenzy of Austen screen adaptations, whose costume designs continue to shape our sense of how the Regency world dressed (very tight trousers for the men, freakishly high bosoms for the women). Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2023 For decades after their debut in 1959, Barbie dolls continued to be light-skinned — white — slender, blonde, with a very narrow waist, ample bosom and always teetering on impossibly high heels. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023 If Romney is a pariah in the contemporary GOP, the other Utah senator, Mike Lee, is in its bosom. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023 The most famous of these, perhaps, is the Greek myth in which Hera pushes away the baby Heracles from her bosom, and her breast milk spills from horizon to horizon. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Aug. 2023 The man embraces his savior as a bosom buddy for whom no gift or favor is too large, and drunkenly gives him his Rolls-Royce. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 28 July 2023 Nate completes an improbable season arc that takes him from head coach to restaurant worker to the assistant to the kit man and then nestling back in Ted’s bosom. Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 31 May 2023 Barbie for years was light-skinned – white – slender, blonde, with a very narrow waist, ample bosom and always teetering on impossibly high heels. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 22 July 2023
Adjective
Schubert and the law enforcement agencies that fall under her jurisdiction appear to be bosom buddies. Monique Judge, The Root, 15 May 2018 Jim Hamre and Zack Willhoite were also bosom buddies in their passion for public transportation who had excitedly awaited the day higher-speed trains could zip through their home turf. Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2017 That's when fans started sharing all the receipts proving that China and Dove are bosom buddies. Noelle Devoe, Seventeen, 31 July 2017 The clip also features a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage, illustrating that Miguel and RL Grime are truly bosom buddies having the time of their lives. Kat Bein, Billboard, 21 July 2017

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English bōsm; akin to Old High German buosam bosom

Verb

verbal derivative of bosom entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of bosom entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1590, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near bosom

Cite this Entry

“Bosom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bosom. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bosom

1 of 2 noun
bos·​om ˈbu̇z-əm How to pronounce bosom (audio)
1
: the front of the human chest
especially : a woman's breasts
2
: the chest thought of as the center of secret thoughts and feelings
3
: a close and comforting relationship
in the bosom of her family
4
: the part of a garment covering the breast
bosomed
-əmd
adjective

bosom

2 of 2 adjective
: intimate entry 2 sense 3a, close
bosom friends

More from Merriam-Webster on bosom

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