breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: air filled with a fragrance or odor

b

: a slight indication : suggestion

the faintest breath of scandal

2

a

: the faculty of breathing

recovering his breath after the race

b

: an act of breathing

fought to the last breath

c

: opportunity or time to breathe : respite

3

: a slight breeze

4

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

bad breath

b

: something (such as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing

c

: inhalation

5

: a spoken sound : utterance

6

: spirit, animation

Phrases

breath of fresh air

: a welcome or refreshing change

in one breath or in the same breath

: almost simultaneously

out of breath

: breathing very rapidly (as from strenuous exercise)

under one's breath

: so as to be barely audible

mumbled something under his breath

Synonyms

• break
• breather
• interruption
• lull
• pause
• recess

Examples of breath in a Sentence

When Oscar Wilde allegedly gestured at the garish wallpaper in his cheap Parisian hotel room and announced with his dying breath, "Either it goes or I go," he was exhibiting something beyond an irrepressibly brilliant wit. —Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004

I ski as far as I can and stop (in these relatively low-altitude coastal mountains, you don't stop for breath the way you sometimes do in Colorado; here you stop when your legs demand a break) … —Lito Tejada-Flores, Skiing, February 1999

gum that freshens your breath

It's so cold outside that I can see my breath.

My mad dash for the bus left me gasping for breath.

I took a long breath before speaking again.

Recent Examples on the Web

Allow them the time to take a few deep breaths and remind them that schools train for these situations, and procedures are in place to keep their child as safe as possible. —Adam Coughran, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

After gathering himself with a deep breath, Roberts then listed other subjects of his appreciation; from the members of his coaching staff, to a front office that compiled just enough roster depth, to the players most of all for embracing his buoyant mindset. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

The 2017 North American consensus statement from The American College of Gastroenterology on this type of breath testing established that a spike of at least 20 parts per million (ppm) in hydrogen within 90 minutes points to SIBO, and a jump by at least 10 ppm of methane signifies IMO. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024

Turning the Dial In the fall of 2021, when the air grew crisp and the leaves reddened in central Ohio, Little John Cupp began feeling short of breath. —T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English breth, from Old English brǣth; akin to Old High German brādam breath, and perhaps to Old English beorma yeast — more at barm

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing breath

• baby's breath
• bad breath
• breath test
• breath work
• catch one's breath
• draw breath
• fight for breath
• fighting/struggling for breath
• gets short of breath
• hold one's breath
• last/dying breath
• morning breath
• on one's breath
• pant for breath
• shortness of breath
• short of breath
• take a breath
• take a deep breath
• take one's breath away
• take someone's breath away
• waste one's breath
• with bated breath

Kids Definition

breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: air filled with a fragrance or odor

b

: a slight indication : suggestion

a faint breath of scandal

2

a

: the ability to breathe

b

: an act of breathing

c

: breather sense 2

3

: a slight breeze

4

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

b

: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breathing

5

: a spoken sound

Medical Definition

breath

noun

ˈbreth 

1

a

: the faculty of breathing

recovering her breath after the race

b

: an act or an instance of breathing or inhaling

2

a

: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing

bad breath

b

: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing