breath

[ breth ]
See synonyms for breath on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.

  2. respiration, especially as necessary to life.

  1. life; vitality.

  2. the ability to breathe easily and normally: She stopped to regain her breath.

  3. time to breathe; pause or respite: Give him a little breath.

  4. a single inhalation or respiration: He took a deep breath.

  5. the brief time required for a single respiration; a moment or instant: They gave it to her and took it away all in a breath.

  6. a slight suggestion, hint, or whisper: The breath of slander never touched her.

  7. a light current of air.

  8. Phonetics.

    • the air drawn into or expelled from the lungs to provide the generative source for most speech sounds.

    • the audible expiration generating voiceless speech sounds, as (p), (k), (sh), etc.

  9. moisture emitted in respiration, especially when condensed and visible.

  10. a trivial circumstance; trifle.

  11. an odorous exhalation, or the air impregnated by it.

  12. Obsolete. exhalation or vapor.

Idioms about breath

  1. below / under one's breath, in a low voice or whisper; sotto voce: He protested under his breath because he was afraid to speak up.

  2. catch one's breath, to pause or rest before continuing an activity or beginning a new one; resume regular breathing: Let me catch my breath before I begin anything new.

  1. in the same breath, at virtually the same time; almost simultaneously: She lost her temper and apologized in the same breath.

  2. out of breath, exhausted or gasping for breath, in consequence of an effort; breathless: After climbing to the top of the tower, we were so out of breath that we had to sit down.

  3. save one's breath, to avoid futile talk or discussion: We were told to save our breath because the matter had already been decided.

  4. take away one's breath, to make one as if breathless with astonishment; surprise; stun: The sheer beauty of the sea took away my breath.: Also take one's breath away.

Origin of breath

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English breeth, breth, Old English brǣth “smell, exhalation”; akin to German Brodem “vapor, steam”

Other words for breath

Other words from breath

  • in·ter·breath, adjective

Words that may be confused with breath

Words Nearby breath

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use breath in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for breath

breath

/ (brɛθ) /


noun
  1. the intake and expulsion of air during respiration

  2. the air inhaled or exhaled during respiration

  1. a single respiration or inhalation of air, etc

  2. the vapour, heat, or odour of exhaled air: his breath on the window melted the frost

  3. a slight gust of air

  4. a short pause or rest: take a breath for five minutes

  5. a brief time: it was done in a breath

  6. a suggestion or slight evidence; suspicion: a breath of scandal

  7. a whisper or soft sound

  8. life, energy, or vitality: the breath of new industry

  9. phonetics the passage of air through the completely open glottis without vibration of the vocal cords, as in exhaling or pronouncing fricatives such as (f) or (h) or stops such as (p) or (k): Compare voice (def. 11)

  10. a breath of fresh air a refreshing change from what one is used to

  11. catch one's breath to rest until breathing is normal, esp after exertion

  12. hold one's breath to wait expectantly or anxiously

  13. in the same breath done or said at the same time

  14. out of breath gasping for air after exertion

  15. save one's breath to refrain from useless talk

  16. take one's breath away to overwhelm with surprise, etc

  17. under one's breath or below one's breath in a quiet voice or whisper

Origin of breath

1
Old English brǣth; related to brǣdan to burn, Old High German brādam heat, breath

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with breath

breath

In addition to the idiom beginning with breath

  • breathe down someone's neck
  • breathe easy
  • breathe life into
  • breathe one's last
  • breathing space
  • breath of fresh air

also see:

  • catch one's breath
  • hold one's breath
  • in the same breath
  • out of breath
  • save one's breath
  • take one's breath away
  • under one's breath
  • waste one's breath
  • with bated breath

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.