Meaning & use

breech

noun·Advanced

The rear part of a gun barrel, located behind the firing chamber, where ammunition is loaded.

See it in a sentence

The soldier opened the breech of the rifle to clear the jammed cartridge.

Engineers redesigned the breech to make loading the cannon faster and safer.

A note on using this word

Breech also appears in 'breech birth,' describing a baby positioned to be born feet or buttocks first.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A delivery in which a baby is positioned to be born feet or buttocks first rather than headfirst.

The doctors prepared for a possible cesarean because the baby was in breech position.

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