breathe
Use Breathe in a sentence
verb (used without object)
1.
to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
3.
to pause, as for breath; take rest: How about giving me a chance to breathe?
4.
to move gently or blow lightly, as air.
5.
to live; exist: Hardly a man breathes who has not known great sorrow.
6.
to be redolent of.
7.
(of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily: The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.
8.
(of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.
9.
(of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.
verb (used with object)
10.
to inhale and exhale in respiration.
11.
to exhale: Dragons breathe fire.
12.
to inject as if by breathing; infuse: She breathed life into the party.
13.
to give utterance to; whisper.
14.
to express; manifest.
00:10
Breathe
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
18.
breathe down someone's neck,
a.
to be close to someone in pursuit; menace; threaten: Police from four states were breathing down his neck.
b.
to watch someone closely so as to supervise or control: If everyone keeps breathing down my neck, how can I get my work done?
19.
breathe freely, to have relief from anxiety, tension, or pressure: Now that the crisis was over, he could breathe freely. Also, breathe easily, breathe easy.
20.
breathe one's last, to die: He breathed his last and was buried in the churchyard.
21.
not breathe a word/syllable, to maintain secrecy; keep a matter confidential: I'll tell you if you promise not to breathe a word.
Related forms
out·breathe, verb (used with object), out·breathed, out·breath·ing.
pre·breathe, verb (used with object), pre·breathed, pre·breath·ing.
Synonyms
14. utter, tell, murmur, voice; reveal, divulge.
14. utter, tell, murmur, voice; reveal, divulge.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To breathe
Collins
World English Dictionary
breathe (briːð) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire |
| 2. | (intr) to exist; be alive: every animal that breathes on earth |
| 3. | (intr) to rest to regain breath, composure, etc: stop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe |
| 4. | (intr) (esp of air) to blow lightly: the wind breathed through the trees |
| 5. | (intr) machinery |
| a. to take in air, esp for combustion: the engine breathes through this air filter | |
| b. to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressure: the crankcase breathes through this duct | |
| 6. | (tr) phonetics Compare voice to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cords |
| 7. | to exhale or emit: the dragon breathed fire |
| 8. | (tr) to impart; instil: to breathe confidence into the actors |
| 9. | (tr) to speak softly; whisper: to breathe words of love |
| 10. | (tr) to permit to rest: to breathe a horse |
| 11. | (intr) (of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate |
| 12. | breathe again, breathe freely, breathe easily to feel relief: I could breathe again after passing the exam |
| 13. | breathe down someone's neck to stay close to someone, esp to oversee what they are doing: the cops are breathing down my neck |
| 14. | breathe one's last to die or be finished or defeated |
| [C13: from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
breathe
c.1300, not in O.E., but it retains the original O.E. vowel of its source word, breath. Related: Breathing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
breathe
In addition to the idioms beginning with breathe, also see as I live and breathe; breathing space; not breathe a word.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
And learn how trees help us build, cook, shop and even breathe.
Among other results, these chemicals may boost blood pressure, speed up heart rate and make you breathe faster.
Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom.
It's why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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