Library / English Dictionary

PECTORAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An adornment worn on the chest or breast

Synonyms:

pectoral; pectoral medallion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("pectoral" is a kind of...):

adornment (a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness)

Derivation:

pectoral (of or relating to the chest or thorax)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Either of two large muscles of the chest

Synonyms:

musculus pectoralis; pecs; pectoral; pectoral muscle; pectoralis

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("pectoral" is a kind of...):

skeletal muscle; striated muscle (a muscle that is connected at either or both ends to a bone and so move parts of the skeleton; a muscle that is characterized by transverse stripes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pectoral"):

greater pectoral muscle; musculus pectoralis major; pectoralis major (a skeletal muscle that adducts and rotates the arm)

musculus pectoralis minor; pectoralis minor; smaller pectoral muscle (a skeletal muscle that draws down the scapula or raises the ribs)

Holonyms ("pectoral" is a part of...):

chest; pectus; thorax (the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates)

Derivation:

pectoral (of or relating to the chest or thorax)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to the chest or thorax

Example:

pectoral organ

Synonyms:

pectoral; thoracic

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

chest (the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates)

Derivation:

pectoral (an adornment worn on the chest or breast)

pectoral (either of two large muscles of the chest)

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