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breech

2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for breech, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The back part of a gun barrel, where the ammunition is loaded, behind the firing chamber.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

rear of tube rear of barrel

How to use breech

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

breech birth breech baby breech-loading rifle

Etymology

From Old English brēċ, the plural of a word meaning leg-covering or trousers — the same root that gives us "breeches".

Full origin of breech →

Frequently asked questions

What does “breech” mean?

The word “breech” means the back part of a gun barrel, where the ammunition is loaded, behind the firing chamber. In plain terms, in guns, the loading end; in childbirth, feet/bottom-first instead of head-first.

How do you pronounce “breech”?

“Breech” is pronounced BREECH (/ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “breech” in a sentence?

Here is “breech” used in a sentence: “The rifle is loaded from the breech rather than the muzzle.”

What part of speech is “breech”?

“Breech” is a noun.

Where does the word “breech” come from?

The word “breech” comes from Old English. From Old English brēċ, the plural of a word meaning leg-covering or trousers — the same root that gives us "breeches".

How many meanings does “breech” have?

“Breech” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the back part of a gun barrel, where the ammunition is loaded, behind the firing chamber.

Related words

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.