breathe
/briːð
/verb [no object]
1Take air into the lungs and then expel it, especially as a regular physiological process: she was breathing deeply breathe in through your nose he breathed out heavily [with object]: we are polluting the air we breathe...
- When we breathe in, the lungs take in oxygen, which our cells need to live and carry out their normal functions.
- Put your lips over the mouthpiece and breathe in deeply and quickly.
- Close your eyes and breathe in very deeply, concentrate on the days pleasant happenings.
Synonyms
inhale and exhale, respire, draw breath;
puff, pant, blow, gasp, wheeze
technical inspire, expire
literary suspire
1.1Be alive; remain living: at least I’m still breathing...
- After all this time she was alive, living, breathing, and walking on the earth.
- Up till this morning, you were alive, living and breathing and doing alive things.
- At each visit, the prison employee should verify that the inmate is alive and breathing.
Synonyms
be alive, be living, live, have life, continue in existence
informal be in the land of the living, be alive and kicking
1.2 literary (Of wind) blow softly.The suns' rays beat sharply on the maiden's back and a light wind breathed through the folds of her outfit....
- As a sly wind breathed wispily beneath my collared shirt, I opened the main doors to the school and stepped inside.
- I could hear the soft wind breathing through the snow, and I was so cold.
Synonyms
blow softly, whisper, murmur, sigh
1.3 [with direct speech] Say something with quiet intensity: ‘We’re together at last,’ she breathed
Synonyms
whisper, murmur, purr, sigh, say
1.4(Of an animal or plant) respire or exchange gases: plants breathe through their roots...
- Around him, the Dogs breathed like so many bellows, and the crisp snow crackled beneath his feet.
- Avoid blocking the nose with food or formula so your kitten can breathe easily and not panic.
- All the rain we've had means that the worms can't breathe.
1.5 [with object] Give an impression of (something): the whole room breathed an air of hygienic efficiency...
- The room seemed to breathe the air of a different era.
- The whole picture breathes timidity and refinement.
- Every sentence breathes the character of its author.
Synonyms
give an impression of, suggest, indicate, be indicative of, have all the hallmarks of
1.6(Of wine) be exposed to fresh air: letting a wine breathe allows oxygen to enter...
- Such wines should be left to breathe for a short time before serving simply to allow any bottle sickness to dissipate.
- Pour out this wine and let it breathe while you're cooking up some lamb chops.
- Do you want to let the wine breathe before dinner?
1.7(Of material or soil) admit or emit air or moisture: let your lawn breathe by putting air into the soil...
- Cotton breathes better than most fabrics and offers great absorbency.
- Treasures here are stored in tissue paper rather than plastic because paper breathes.
- Plastic is no good for the soil because soil needs to breathe.
1.8 [with object] Allow (a horse) to rest after exertion.They had slowed down in front of us because of the amount the brush there was and to let the horses breathe.
1.9 (breathe upon) archaic or literary Tarnish or taint: before the queen’s fair name was breathed upon...
- He had never heard of the slightest suspicion being breathed upon the name of a judge after he had been elevated to the bench.
Phrases
breathe (freely) again
breathe down someone's neck
breathe one's last
breathe (new) life into
breathe a sigh of relief
not breathe a word
Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'exhale, steam'): from breath.