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breath
7 dictionary results for: breath
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
breath       [breth] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
2.respiration, esp. as necessary to life.
3.life; vitality.
4.the ability to breathe easily and normally: She stopped to regain her breath.
5.time to breathe; pause or respite: Give him a little breath.
6.a single inhalation or respiration: He took a deep breath.
7.the brief time required for a single respiration; a moment or instant: They gave it to her and took it away all in a breath.
8.a slight suggestion, hint, or whisper: The breath of slander never touched her.
9.a light current of air.
10.Phonetics.
a.the air drawn into or expelled from the lungs to provide the generative source for most speech sounds.
b.the audible expiration generating voiceless speech sounds, as (p), (k), (sh), etc.
11.moisture emitted in respiration, esp. when condensed and visible.
12.a trivial circumstance; trifle.
13.an odorous exhalation, or the air impregnated by it.
14.Obsolete. exhalation or vapor.
—Idioms
15.below or under one's breath, in a low voice or whisper; sotto voce: He protested under his breath because he was afraid to speak up.
16.catch one's breath, to pause or rest before continuing an activity or beginning a new one; resume regular breathing: Let me catch my breath before I begin anything new.
17.in the same breath, at virtually the same time; almost simultaneously: She lost her temper and apologized in the same breath.
18.out of breath, exhausted or gasping for breath, in consequence of an effort; breathless: After climbing to the top of the tower, we were so out of breath that we had to sit down.
19.save one's breath, to avoid futile talk or discussion: We were told to save our breath because the matter had already been decided.
20.take away one's breath, to make one as if breathless with astonishment; surprise; stun: The sheer beauty of the sea took away my breath. Also, take one's breath away.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME breth, breeth, OE brǣth smell, exhalation; akin to G Brodem vapor, steam]

—Synonyms 3. spirit, animation, vigor, force.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
breath       (brěth)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
  2. The act or process of breathing; respiration.
  3. The capacity to breathe, especially in a natural and unlabored manner: shortness of breath.
  4. Spirit or vitality; life.
  5. A single respiration: a deep breath.
  6. Exhaled air, as evidenced by vapor, odor, or heat.
  7. A momentary pause or rest.
    1. A momentary stirring of air.
    2. A slight gust of fragrant air.
  9. A trace or suggestion: a breath of scandal.
  10. A softly spoken sound; a whisper.
  11. Linguistics Exhalation of air without vibration of the vocal cords, as in the articulation of p and s.


[Middle English breth, from Old English brǣth; see gwhrē- in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
breath 
O.E. bræð "odor, exhalation" (O.E. word for "air exhaled from the lungs" was æðm), from P.Gmc. *bræthaz "smell, exhalation" (cf. O.H.G. bradam), from PIE *bhretos "steam, vapor given off by heat or something cooking," from base *bhre- "burn, heat." Breathless "awed" is from 1802. Breathalyzer first recorded 1960; an earlier name for it was drunkometer (1934).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
breath

noun
1. the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing; "he took a deep breath and dived into the pool"; "he was fighting to his last breath" 
2. the air that is inhaled and exhaled in respiration; "his sour breath offended her" 
3. a short respite 
4. an indirect suggestion; "not a breath of scandal ever touched her" [syn: hint] 
5. a slight movement of the air; "there wasn't a breath of air in the room" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

breath

In addition to the idiom beginning with breath, also see catch one's breath; hold one's breath; in the same breath; out of breath; save one's breath; take one's breath away; under one's breath; waste one's breath; with bated breath.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

breath (brěth)
n.

  1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
  2. A single respiration.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Breath

Breath\ (br[e^]th), n. [OE. breth, breeth, AS. br[=ae][eth] odor, scent, breath; cf. OHG. br[=a]dam steam, vapor, breath, G. brodem, and possibly E. Brawn, and Breed.]

1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration; air which, in the process of respiration, has parted with oxygen and has received carbonic acid, aqueous vapor, warmth, etc.

Melted as breath into the wind. --Shak.

2. The act of breathing naturally or freely; the power or capacity to breathe freely; as, I am out of breath.

3. The power of respiration, and hence, life. --Hood.

Thou takest away their breath, they die. --Ps. civ. 29.

4. Time to breathe; respite; pause.

Give me some breath, some little pause. --Shak.

5. A single respiration, or the time of making it; a single act; an instant.

He smiles and he frowns in a breath. --Dryden.

6. Fig.: That which gives or strengthens life.

The earthquake voice of victory, To thee the breath of life. --Byron.

7. A single word; the slightest effort; a trifle.

A breath can make them, as a breath has made. --Goldsmith.

8. A very slight breeze; air in gentle motion.

Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea, when not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface. --Addison.

9. Fragrance; exhalation; odor; perfume. --Tennison.

The breath of flowers. --Bacon.

10. Gentle exercise, causing a quicker respiration.

An after dinner's breath. --Shak.

Out of breath, breathless, exhausted; breathing with difficulty.

Under one's breath, in low tones.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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