breather

American  

[bree-ther] / ˈbri ðər /

noun

1. a pause, as for breath.

   Synonyms:

   intermission, recess, timeout, break, rest

2. vigorous exercise that causes heavy breathing. breathe.

3. a person who breathes.

4. a vent in a container or covering, as in a casing for machinery or in a storage tank, to equalize interior and exterior pressure, permit entry of air, escape of fumes, or the like.

5. a device for providing air from the atmosphere to submerged or otherwise sealed-off persons, internal-combustion engines, etc..

   the snorkel breather of a submarine.

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breather British  

/ ˈbriːðə /

noun

1. informal a short pause for rest

2. a person who breathes in a specified way

   a deep breather

3. a vent in a container to equalize internal and external pressure, such as the pipe in the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine

4. a small opening in a room, container, cover, etc, supplying air for ventilation

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Etymology

Origin of breather

First recorded in 1350–1400, breather is from the Middle English word brethere. See breathe, -er ¹

Example Sentences

December, by contrast, might provide just the kind of breather a healthy market needs.

From Barron's

Some traders might just be using the last few weeks of the year to take a breather, Hill said.

From The Wall Street Journal

He and his colleague jumped in the back of the ambulance to take a "10 second breather" before deciding they needed to join the rescue effort.

From BBC

Have you been writing more or are you taking a breather now that the album is out?

From Los Angeles Times

Traders took silence from New York's Thanksgiving break as a reason to have a breather and take stock of a healthy rebound from November's swoon that was sparked by AI bubble threats.

From Barron's

Related Words

• lull
• respite