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breath

[breth]
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noun

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. breastplate,
  2. breastplow,
  3. breaststroke,
  4. breastsummer,
  5. breastwork,
  6. breath analyzer,
  7. breath group,
  8. breath of fresh air,
  9. breath test,
  10. breath-holding test

Idioms

Origin of breath

before 900; Middle English breth, breeth, Old English brǣth smell, exhalation; akin to German Brodem vapor, steam
SYNONYMS FOR breath
3. spirit, animation, vigor, force.
Related formsin·ter·breath, adjective
Can be confusedbreadth breath breathe
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for breaths

British Dictionary definitions for breaths

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 breaths

breath

n.

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."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for breaths

breath

[brĕth]

n.

The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
A single respiration.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with breaths

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.