Definition of breathe | Collins English Dictionary

breathe (briːð)

to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire
(intr) to exist; be alive ⇒ every animal that breathes on earth
(intr) to rest to regain breath, composure, etc ⇒ stop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe
(intr) (esp of air) to blow lightly ⇒ the wind breathed through the trees
(intr) machinery
1. to take in air, esp for combustion ⇒ the engine breathes through this air filter
2. to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressure ⇒ the crankcase breathes through this duct
(tr) phonetics to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cords Compare voice (sense 19)
to exhale or emit ⇒ the dragon breathed fire
(tr) to impart; instil ⇒ to breathe confidence into the actors
(tr) to speak softly; whisper ⇒ to breathe words of love
(tr) to permit to rest ⇒ to breathe a horse
(intr) (of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate
See breathe again
See breathe down someone's neck
See breathe one's last

C13: from breath

View thesaurus entry

= inhale and exhale pant, gasp, puff, gulp, wheeze, respire, draw in breath

= instil, inspire, pass on, inject, impart, infuse, imbue,

British English: breathe When people or animals breathe, they take air into their lungs and let it out again.He stood there breathing deeply and evenly. No one should have to drive out of town to breathe clean air.briːð VERB He stood there breathing deeply and evenly. No one should have to drive out of town to breathe clean air.
Spanish: respirar v
French: respirer v
German: atmen v
Chinese: 呼吸 v
Arabic: يَتَنَفَّس v
Portuguese: respirar v
Russian: дышать v
Croatian: disati v
Czech: dýchat v
Danish: ånde v
Dutch: ademen v
Finnish: hengittää v
Greek: αναπνέω v
Italian: respirare v
Japanese: 息をする v
Korean: 숨을 쉬다 v
Norwegian: puste v
Polish: odetchnąć v oddychać
Brazilian Portuguese: respirar v
European Spanish: respirar v
Swedish: andas v
Thai: หายใจ v
Turkish: nefes almak v
Vietnamese: thở v

I'd forgotten he couldn't breathe through his destroyed nose.
Robert Wilson, A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
We rip off our vests; the soldiers stack their guns and breathe more easily.
Maxim (2004)
S. scientists have found a new mechanism by which many insects breathe.
Globe and Mail (2003)
However, an operation, followed by hard work, sees him back attempting to breathe new life into a career with Alloa.
Glasgow Herald (2002)
Take a deep breath in through the nose as you rock your pelvis back and then breathe out as you rock your pelvis forwards.
Amoda, MOVING INTO ECSTASY: An Urban Mystic's Guide to Movement, Music and Meditation (2001)