breathing

[bree-thing]

noun

1. the act of a person or other animal that breathes; respiration.

2. a single breath.

3. the short time required for a single breath.

4. a pause, as for breath.

5. utterance or words.

6. a gentle moving or blowing, as of wind.

7. Classical Greek Grammar.

   1. the manner of articulating the beginning of a word written with an initial vowel sign, with or without aspiration before the vowel.

   2. one of the two symbols used to indicate this.

breathing

/ ˈbriːðɪŋ /

noun

1. the passage of air into and out of the lungs to supply the body with oxygen

2. a single breath

   a breathing between words

3. an utterance

   a breathing of hate

4. a soft movement, esp of air

5. a rest or pause

6. phonetics

   1. expulsion of breath ( rough breathing ) or absence of such expulsion ( smooth breathing ) preceding the pronunciation of an initial vowel or rho in ancient Greek

   2. either of two symbols indicating this

Other Word Forms

• breathingly adverb
• unbreathing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breathing¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, breathing is from the Middle English word brethynge. See breathe, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Sleep apnea occurs when a person's breathing repeatedly stops and restarts during sleep, which can keep the body from getting sufficient oxygen.

Read more on Science Daily

In a packed waiting hall outside the doctor's consulting room, anxious parents stood in line with children sneezing, coughing or complaining of breathing difficulties.

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“What you are finding now is that the market is breathing a sigh of relief that the December rate cut is back on the table in a big way,” Mulberry said via phone.

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By subsequently taxing hard to double the amount of breathing space or headroom to £22bn a year around her borrowing targets, Reeves gets space from the uncomfortable glare of the markets.

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One of the most frequently cited potential benefits of less-frequent reporting is that it gives management breathing room to make long-term investments.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• respiratory