1. [n]  a close affectionate and protective acceptance; "his willing embrace of new ideas"; "in the bosom of the family"
2. [n]  cloth that covers the chest or breasts
3. [n]  a person's breast or chest
4. [n]  either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman
5. [n]  the locus of feelings and intuitions; "in your heart you know it is true"; "her story would melt your bosom"
6. [n]  (archaic) the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept; "his bosom was bursting with the secret"
7. [v]  hug, usually with fondness; "Hug me, please"; "They embraced"
8. [v]  hide in one's bosom; "She bosomed his letters"

1. \Bos"om\ (b[oo^]z"[u^]m), n. [AS. b?sm; akin to D. bozem,
   Fries. b?sm, OHG. puosum, G. busen, and prob. E. bough.]
   1. The breast of a human being; the part, between the arms,
      to which anything is pressed when embraced by them.
            You must prepare your bosom for his knife. --Shak.
   2. The breast, considered as the seat of the passions,
      affections, and operations of the mind; consciousness;
      secret thoughts.
            Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know Wherefore they
            do it.                                --Shak.
            If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my
            iniquity in my bosom.                 --Job xxxi.
                                                  33.
   3. Embrace; loving or affectionate inclosure; fold.
            Within the bosom of that church.      --Hooker.
   4. Any thing or place resembling the breast; a supporting
      surface; an inner recess; the interior; as, the bosom of
      the earth. ``The bosom of the ocean.'' --Addison.
   5. The part of the dress worn upon the breast; an article, or
      a portion of an article, of dress to be worn upon the
      breast; as, the bosom of a shirt; a linen bosom.
            He put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it
            out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. --Ex. iv.
                                                  6.
   6. Inclination; desire. [Obs.] --Shak.
   7. A depression round the eye of a millstone. --Knight.
   

2. \Bos"om\, a.
   1. Of or pertaining to the bosom.
   2. Intimate; confidential; familiar; trusted; cherished;
      beloved; as, a bosom friend.
   

3. \Bos"om\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bosomed} (-[u^]md); p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Bosoming}.]
   1. To inclose or carry in the bosom; to keep with care; to
      take to heart; to cherish.
            Bosom up my counsel, You'll find it wholesome.
                                                  --Shak.
   2. To conceal; to hide from view; to embosom.
            To happy convents bosomed deep in vines. --Pope.
   

In the East objects are carried in the bosom which Europeans carry in the pocket. To have in one's bosom indicates kindness, secrecy, or intimacy (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:8). Christ is said to have been in "the bosom of the Father," i.e., he had the most perfect knowledge of the Father, had the closest intimacy with him (John 1:18). John (13:23) was "leaning on Jesus' bosom" at the last supper. Our Lord carries his lambs in his bosom, i.e., has a tender, watchful care over them (Isa. 40:11).