breathed

[ bretht, breeth d ]

/ brɛθt, briðd /

adjective Phonetics.

not phonated; unvoiced; voiceless.

utilizing the breath exclusively in the production of a speech sound.

Nearby words

breathe, breathe down someone's neck, breathe easy, breathe life into, breathe one's last, breathed, breather, breathing, breathing bag, breathing reserve, breathing space

Origin of breathed

1875–80; breath + -ed³ or breathe + -ed²

Definition for breathed (2 of 2)

breathe

[ breeth ]

/ brið /

verb (used without object), breathed [breethd] /briðd/, breath·ing.

to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.

(in speech) to control the outgoing breath in producing voice and speech sounds.

to pause, as for breath; take rest: How about giving me a chance to breathe?

to move gently or blow lightly, as air.

to live; exist: Hardly a man breathes who has not known great sorrow.

to be redolent of.

(of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily: The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.

(of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.

(of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.

verb (used with object), breathed [breethd] /briðd/, breath·ing.

to inhale and exhale in respiration.

to exhale: Dragons breathe fire.

to inject as if by breathing; infuse: She breathed life into the party.

to give utterance to; whisper.

to express; manifest.

to allow to rest or recover breath: to breathe a horse.

to deprive of breath; tire; exhaust.

to cause to pant; exercise.

Origin of breathe

1250–1300; Middle English brethen, derivative of breath

SYNONYMS FOR breathe

14 utter, tell, murmur, voice; reveal, divulge.

Related forms

out·breathe, verb (used with object), out·breathed, out·breath·ing.pre·breathe, verb (used with object), pre·breathed, pre·breath·ing.

Can be confused

breadth breath breathe

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

Examples from the Web for breathed

But he breathed vibrant, hilarious, oh-so-fabulous life into the classic 1996 remake.
Out of the Birdcage: How Mike Nichols Made Gay Culture Mainstream|Kevin Fallon|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Outside of the absurdity of “blood splatter” flying through the air is the implication that Ebola can be “breathed” at all.
The Sham, Scaremongering Guide to Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I breathed sloppily through my mouth, hung my head between my legs, and spit every so often.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every time he breathed, he felt pains all through his torso—fractured ribs.
The Cost: What Stop and Frisk Does to a Young Man’s Soul|Rilla Askew|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But, as we breathed the Pacific air and gazed at the breakers from cliffs, I chickened out.
Telling My Family That I’m Leaving Again for Afghanistan|Nick Willard|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And on one never-to-be-forgotten morning he stood up, straightened himself, breathed God's blessed air, and knew himself free!
The Strength of Gideon and Other Stories|Paul Laurence Dunbar
All the way from the house in which his lordship had breathed his last was one continuous blaze of bright uniforms.
A Soldier's Experience or A Voice from the Ranks: Showing the Cost of War in Blood and Treasure|Timothy Gowing
He breathed quite softly and regularly, and in a little time Christie found courage to raise herself and to look into his face.
Christie Redfern's Troubles|Margaret Robertson
His eyes opened heavily, but closed again; yet still he breathed.
Handy Andy, Volume 2 (of 2)|Samuel Lover
Never a word of slander has been breathed against his name since he was born.
The Squire's Daughter|Silas K(itto) Hocking

British Dictionary definitions for breathed (1 of 2)

breathed

/ (brɛθt, briːðd) /

adjective

phonetics relating to or denoting a speech sound for whose articulation the vocal cords are not made to vibrateCompare voiced

British Dictionary definitions for breathed (2 of 2)

breathe

/ (briːð) /

verb

to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire

(intr) to exist; be aliveevery animal that breathes on earth

(intr) to rest to regain breath, composure, etcstop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe

(intr) (esp of air) to blow lightlythe wind breathed through the trees

(intr) machinery

to take in air, esp for combustionthe engine breathes through this air filter
to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressurethe crankcase breathes through this duct

(tr) phonetics to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cordsCompare voice (def. 19)

to exhale or emitthe dragon breathed fire

(tr) to impart; instilto breathe confidence into the actors

(tr) to speak softly; whisperto breathe words of love

(tr) to permit to restto breathe a horse

(intr) (of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate

breathe again, breathe freely or breathe easily to feel reliefI could breathe again after passing the exam

breathe down someone's neck to stay close to someone, esp to oversee what they are doingthe cops are breathing down my neck

breathe one's last to die or be finished or defeated

Word Origin for breathe

C13: from 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

Idioms and Phrases with breathed

breathe

In addition to the idioms beginning with breathe

breathe down someone's neck
breathe easy
breathe life into
breathe one's last

also see:

as I live and breathe
breathing space
not breathe a word

breathed

adjective Phonetics.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of breathed

Definition for breathed (2 of 2)

breathe

verb (used without object), breathed [breethd] /briðd/, breath·ing.

verb (used with object), breathed [breethd] /briðd/, breath·ing.

Origin of breathe

SYNONYMS FOR breathe

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for breathed

British Dictionary definitions for breathed (1 of 2)

breathed

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for breathed (2 of 2)

breathe

verb

Word Origin for breathe

Idioms and Phrases with breathed

breathe