thorax
(noun) part of an insect’s body that bears the wings and legs
thorax, chest, pectus
(noun) the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
thorax
(noun) the middle region of the body of an arthropod between the head and the abdomen
Source: WordNet® 3.1
thorax (plural thoraces or thoraxes)
(anatomy) The region of the mammalian body between the neck and abdomen as well as the cavity containing the heart and lungs.
(entomology and arachnology) The middle of three distinct divisions in an insect, crustacean or arachnid body to which the legs are attached.
Source: Wiktionary
Tho"rax, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Definition: The part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen, containing that part of the body cavity the walls of which are supported by the dorsal vertebræ, the ribs, and the sternum, and which the heart and lungs are situated; the chest.
Note: In mammals the thoracic cavity is completely separated from the abdominal by the diaphragm, but in birds and many reptiles the separation is incomplete, while in other reptiles, and in amphibians and fishes, there is no marked separation and no true thorax.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The middle region of the body of an insect, or that region which bears the legs and wings. It is composed of three united somites, each of which is composed of several distinct parts. See Illust. in Appendix. and Illust. of Coleoptera. (b) The second, or middle, region of the body of a crustacean, arachnid, or other articulate animal. In the case of decapod Crustacea, some writers include under the term thorax only the three segments bearing the maxillipeds; others include also the five segments bearing the legs. See Illust. in Appendix.
3. (Antiq.)
Definition: A breastplate, cuirass, or corselet; especially, the breastplate worn by the ancient Greeks.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
21 April 2025
(noun) a reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics (often arranged in alphabetical order) dealing with the entire range of human knowledge or with some particular specialty
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
