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 Englishbreth, breeth,Old Englishbrǣth smell, exhalation; akin to GermanBrodem vapor, steam
Related formsin·ter·breath, adjectiveCan be confusedbreadthbreathbreathe
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
phoneticsthe 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 aira refreshing change from what one is used to
catch one's breathto rest until breathing is normal, esp after exertion
hold one's breathto wait expectantly or anxiously
in the same breathdone or said at the same time
out of breathgasping for air after exertion
save one's breathto refrain from useless talk
take one's breath awayto overwhelm with surprise, etc
under one's breathorbelow one's breathin a quiet voice or whisper
Word Origin for breath
Old English brǣth; related to brǣdan to burn, Old High German brādam heat, 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."
Breathing with difficulty, panting, gasping. For example, After five flights of stairs I'm out of breath. This slightly hyperbolic term (since literally running out of breath means one is dead) dates from the late 1500s. Also see catch one's breath.
