breath

[breth]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR breath ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.

respiration, especially as necessary to life.

life; vitality.

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

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

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

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.

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

a light current of air.

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.

moisture emitted in respiration, especially when condensed and visible.

a trivial circumstance; trifle.

an odorous exhalation, or the air impregnated by it.

Obsolete. exhalation or vapor.

Idioms

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

before 900; Middle English breth, breeth, Old English brǣth smell, exhalation; akin to German Brodem vapor, steam

Related formsin·ter·breath, adjective

Can be confusedbreadth breath breathe

Synonyms for breath

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR breath ON THESAURUS.COM

3. spirit, animation, vigor, force.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for breath

gasp, breathing, sigh, smell, whiff, breather, pant, gulp, exhalation, expiration, wheeze, animation, inspiration, inhalation, eupnea, insufflation, vapor, gust, odor, waft

Examples from the Web for breath

Contemporary Examples of breath

He died in July after being grabbed around the throat by a cop and wrestled to ground where the breath flew out of him.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner
Mike Barnicle
December 8, 2014
“Every time you see me, you want to mess with me,” Garner exclaimed, short of breath.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio Raheem
Marlow Stern
December 4, 2014
His breath became so strained that he was forced to quit his job as a horticulturalist for the parks department.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio Raheem
Marlow Stern
December 4, 2014
Zied suggests popping a breath strip, sucking on a strong mint, or reapplying your lip gloss.
12 Thanksgiving Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work
DailyBurn
November 27, 2014
Try holding your breath waiting for that, especially with the new more conservative Senate that will be seated on January 3.
For Obama, Hell Week Has Arrived
Michael Tomasky
November 15, 2014

Historical Examples of breath

I feel the breath of life taken away from me by the multitude.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
With parched throats, gasping for breath, they lay back in agony.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
As soon as the fellow on the bed would have his breath he would scream.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
She went about her work that morning humming under her breath.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
Not a breeze can stir but it thrills us with the breath of autumn.
The Old Manse (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")
Nathaniel Hawthorne

British Dictionary definitions for breath

breath

noun

the intake and expulsion of air during respiration

the air inhaled or exhaled during respiration

a single respiration or inhalation of air, etc

the vapour, heat, or odour of exhaled airhis breath on the window melted the frost

a slight gust of air

a short pause or resttake a breath for five minutes

a brief timeit was done in a breath

a suggestion or slight evidence; suspiciona breath of scandal

a whisper or soft sound

life, energy, or vitalitythe breath of new industry

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)

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

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

hold one's breath to wait expectantly or anxiously

in the same breath done or said at the same time

out of breath gasping for air after exertion

save one's breath to refrain from useless talk

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

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

Word Origin for breath

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

Word Origin and History for breath

Old English bræð "odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor" (Old English word for "air exhaled from the lungs" was æðm), from Proto-Germanic *bræthaz "smell, exhalation" (cf. Old High German bradam, German Brodem "breath, steam"), from PIE root *gwhre- "to breathe, smell."

breath in Medicine