Link Centre Dictionary

breath

UK/bɾɛθ/ US/bɹɛθ/ common

noun

1.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

  • “he took a deep breath and dived into the pool”
  • “he was fighting to his last breath”
2.

the air that is inhaled and exhaled in respiration

  • “his sour breath offended her”
3.
4.

an indirect suggestion

  • “not a breath of scandal ever touched her”
Synonyms
5.

a slight movement of the air

  • “there wasn”

Origin

From Middle English breeth, breth, from Old English brǣþ (“odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor”), from Proto-West Germanic *brāþi (“vapour, waft, exhalation, breath”) (compare German Brodem (“haze, vapor; breath”), of a different but related formation).

Phrases

  • arse breath
  • ass breath
  • baby's breath
  • bad breath
  • breath and britches
  • breath check
  • breath control
  • breathe one's last breath

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.