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breather

 - 4 dictionary results

breath⋅er

[bree-ther]
–noun
1. a pause, as for breath.
2. vigorous exercise that causes heavy breathing.
3. a person who breathes.
4. a vent in a container or covering, as in a casing for machinery or in a storage tank, to equalize interior and exterior pressure, permit entry of air, escape of fumes, or the like.
5. a device for providing air from the atmosphere to submerged or otherwise sealed-off persons, internal-combustion engines, etc.: the snorkel breather of a submarine.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME brethere. See breathe, -er 1


1. rest, break, time-out, recess, intermission.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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breath·er   (brē'thər)   
n.  
  1. One that breathes, especially in a specified manner: a shallow breather.

  2. Informal A short rest period: took a breather after skiing for two hours.

  3. Informal An activity, such as strenuous exercise, that causes difficult breathing.

  4. A small vent allowing the passage of gas or liquid to or from an enclosed area.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
breather

  1. n.
    a rest period; a lull. (A chance to catch one's breath.) : As soon as we've had a breather, it's back to work.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: breath·er
Pronunciation: 'brE-th&r
Function: noun
: one that breathes usually in a specified way —see MOUTH BREATHER
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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