breath
/brɛθ
/noun [mass noun]
1The air taken into or expelled from the lungs: I was gasping for breath his breath smelled of garlic...
- This waif-like girl was sitting upright, gasping for breath with an oxygen cannula dripping blood.
- As the oxygen mask reduced her need to gasp for breath, Mary relaxed a bit and reflected on her last, turbulent hour.
- Gasping for breath at the top, I went into the bedroom and found that my respiration rate matched that of the patient.
Synonyms
wind
informal puff
1.1An inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs: she drew in a quick breath...
- When the treatment is finished, inhalation sedation wears off after a few deep breaths.
- I was taking shorter breaths and getting exhausted quicker than the average person.
- I have to take it in my stride and take a few deep breaths and manage it in the most mature way I can.
Synonyms
gulp of air, inhalation, inspiration;
exhalation, expiration;
sigh;
pant, gasp, wheeze
technical respiration
1.2 [mass noun] archaic The power of breathing; life.
Synonyms
life, life force, animation, vital force
1.3 [in singular] A slight movement of air: the weather was balmy, not a breath of wind...
- Yes, for an afternoon or two, a breath of wind passed through the university.
- Then, he whispered, barely like a breath of wind, the last word that he would ever say.
- The sun was pouring down, with hardly a breath of wind.
Synonyms
puff, waft, slight stirring, sigh, faint breeze
literary zephyr
1.4 [in singular] A sign, hint, or suggestion: he avoided the slightest breath of scandal...
- Nevertheless, priests and laity restored the mass at the mere breath of royal suggestion.
- The writer added a breath of intrigue to the mystery surrounding the wizard.
- Coy admissions of a relationship between the parties lent a breath of intrigue to the otherwise sedate election campaign.
Synonyms
hint, suggestion, trace, touch, whisper, suspicion, whiff, undertone
Phrases
before one can (or has time to) draw breath
a breath of fresh air
the breath of life
catch one's breath
don't hold your breath
draw breath
get one's breath (back)
hold one's breath
in the same (or next) breath
the (or one's) last breath
out of breath
take breath
take someone's breath away
under one's breath
waste one's breath
Origin
Old English brǣth 'smell, scent', of Germanic origin; related to brood.