[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/breastbone/)

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# breastbone

noun (a breastbone, breastbones)

«breastbone» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The long flat bone in the middle of the chest, joining the ribs at the front; its scientific name is the sternum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#m1)
2. The same bone in a bird, where its flying muscles are fixed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on the skeleton it is labelled as the sternum; it protects the heart and lungs together with the ribs. In first aid, chest compressions in CPR are done on the lower half of the breastbone. Phrases: the breastbone, behind the breastbone.

### Examples

- Your ribs join your breastbone at the front. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#x1)
- The scientific name for the breastbone is the sternum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#x2)
- In CPR you press down on the lower half of the breastbone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#x3)
- A bird's breastbone has a big ridge for its flight muscles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#x4)
- The heart sits just behind the breastbone, a little to the left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#x5)
- Label the breastbone on the skeleton diagram. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/#x6)

### Note

Countable, one word. Scientific term: sternum. Only learn CPR from a trained first-aider; never practise it on a real person.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «breastbone» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breastbone/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«breastbone» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/breastbone.html) on Mova free.