breathe Definition
breathe (brēt̸h)
intransitive verb, transitive verb breathed, breath′·ing
- to take (air) into the lungs and let it out again; inhale and exhale, esp. easily and naturally
- to inhale (in full, breathe in) or exhale (in full, breathe out)
- to carry on respiration (sense )
- to live
- Old Poet. to give out (an odor)
- to give out or instill as if by breathing to breathe confidence
- Old Poet. to blow softly
- to speak or sing softly; whisper; murmur
- to give or take time to breathe; rest to breathe a horse
- to pant or cause to pant, as from exertion
- to react with the air after being opened or decanted and thus develop further in flavor and bouquet: said of wine
- to allow the passage of air, water, vapor, etc. through or as through pores: said of fabrics
Etymology: ME brethen < breth, breath
breathe Related Forms
breathe Idioms
breathe again
to have a feeling of relief or reassurance
breathe a word
to say something or anything if you breathe a word of this to anyone, you'll regret it
breathe one's last
to die
breathe Synonyms
breathe
v.
breathe Usage Examples
Object
- sigh: My body can now breathe a huge sigh of relief!
- apparatus: He also invented one of the first forms of breathing apparatus to be used by firemen.
- oxygen: Each time I have visited the Pole I required a few hours breathing oxygen to get over the worst effects.
- air: The theme is: " Breathe clean air for a healthier home for you, your family & pets.
- difficulty: Does she have chest pains, breathing difficulties, the flu, stomach ache... Him: IS NOT GOOD!
- life: You can even breathe new life into a flagging barbecue with barbecue paint!
Preposition: through
- gill: They breathe through gills rather than lungs and have a tail for swimming, instead of legs.
- contraction: I was doing OK still, managed to breathe through the contractions.
- nose: Breathing through the nose will be necessary whilst the thermometer is in place.
Preposition: into
lung: These can be breathed deep into the lung where they may stay for a long time, causing possible damage.
Adjective complement
- unaided: The porpoise was very small, and was able to swim and breathe unaided in the tank.
- underwater: Aquatic animals have evolved various methods of breathing underwater.
Followed by an intransitive particle
through: In the correct upright position, you breathe through to your belly chakra, helping to center and remain quiet.
Present participle complement
retrain: Bruton A. & Holgate S.T. ( 2005 ) Hypocapnia and asthma: a mechanism for breathing retraining?
Preposition: in
- fume: In case they arrived to our planet, they would have been all standing next to pipes and breathing in fumes.
- vapor: Inhalation: Animals are forced to breathe in chemical vapors over a fixed period of time.
- smoke: Passive smoking is when you breathe in smoke from someone elseâs cigarettes.
- smell: Breathe in the sweet smell of orange blossom in Seville.
- fiber: They may breathe in asbestos fibers during their day-to-day work.
- air: I love taking photos and breathing in the air of a new exciting place.
Browse dictionary entries near breathe
- ‹ Breathalyzer
- ‹ breath
- ‹ breastwork
- ‹ breastplate
- ‹ breastpin
- ‹ breastbone
- ‹ breast stroke
- ‹ breast-feed
- ‹ breast
- ‹ bream
- breathed ›
- breather ›
- breathing ›
- breathing space (or room) ›
- breathless ›
- breathtaking ›
- breathy ›
- breccia ›
- brecciate ›
- Brecher, Irving ›

