sternum
noun/ˈstɜrnəm/
Frequency rank: #16,354 most common English word
Meaning
The long flat bone running down the center of the chest, connecting the ribs.

Example sentence
The doctor pressed gently on his sternum to check for any tenderness after the fall.
Synonyms & related words
- breastbone
- chestbone
Practice this word in the quiz
More words in ranks 16,301–16,400
- snoreto breathe noisily during sleep, making a rough, rattling sound
- sorceressa woman who practises magic or sorcery; a female sorcerer.
- spaceflightthe act or experience of traveling beyond Earth's atmosphere in a spacecraft.
- spendera person who spends money, especially freely or extravagantly
- sphinctera ring-shaped muscle that can contract to close off a body passage or opening.
- stockbrokerA person who buys and sells stocks and shares on behalf of clients, usually for a commission.
- strangulationThe act of killing or injuring someone by squeezing their throat so they cannot breathe.
- stratificationThe arrangement of something into distinct layers or hierarchical levels.
- stretchyable to stretch easily and return to its original shape.
- sucroseA natural sugar found in plants, composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.