a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
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.
Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English brethen, derivative of breath
Related forms
out·breathe, verb (used with object), -breathed, -breath·ing.
pre·breathe, verb (used with object), -breathed, -breath·ing.