breath

breath
breath
W2S3 [breθ] n
[: Old English; Origin: brAth]
1.)
a) [U]
the air that you send out of your lungs when you breathe
Leo could smell the wine on her breath.
Let your breath out slowly.
He's got bad breath (=breath that smells unpleasant) .
b) [U]
air that you take into your lungs
Eric came running into the room, out of breath (=having difficulty breathing because he had just been running) .
She was fat and short of breath (=unable to breathe easily, especially because of ill health) .
gasp/fight etc for breath
(=breathe quickly because you are having difficulty breathing)
When he reached the top of the stairs, his heart was pounding and he was gasping for breath.
c)
an amount of air that you take into your lungs
take a (deep/long/big etc) breath
(=breathe in a lot of air at one time)
Shaun took a deep breath and dived in.
2.) a breath of fresh air
a) something that is new and different in a way you think is exciting and good
Osborne's play brought a breath of fresh air to the British theatre.
b) clean air outside, which you feel you need after being inside for a long time
I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air.
3.) don't hold your breath informal
used to say that something is not going to happen soon
The system's due for an update, but don't hold your breath.
4.) catch your breath also get your breath back
to start breathing normally again after running or making a lot of effort
Slow down, I need a minute to catch my breath.
5.) don't waste your breath also save your breath
spoken used to say that someone will not be able to persuade someone else, so there is no point in trying
Save your breath. She's already made up her mind.
Will he listen to me or will I just be wasting my breath?
6.) take sb's breath away
to be extremely beautiful or exciting
The view from the top will take your breath away.
7.) under your breath
in a quiet voice so that no one can hear you
'Son of a bitch,' he muttered under his breath.
8.) in the same breath
a) also in the next breath
used to say that someone has said two things at once that are so different from each other they cannot both be true
He criticized the film, then predicted in the same breath that it would be a great success.
b) if you mention two people or things in the same breath, you show that you think they are alike or are related
I became nervous when the doctor mentioned my mother's name and 'cancer' in the same breath.
in the same breath as/with
a young poet mentioned in the same breath as T.S. Eliot
9.) with your last/dying breath
at the moment when you are dying
With his last breath he cursed his captors.
10.) [singular] written
a very small amount or a sign of something
breath of
They did everything they could to avoid the slightest breath of scandal.
11.) a breath of air/wind
literary a slight movement of air
Scarcely a breath of air disturbed the stillness of the day.
with bated breath atbated,draw breath atdraw1 (24)
hold your breath athold1 (17)
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HINT sense 1
Do not confuse the noun breath /breW/ with the verb breathe /bri:T/ She took a breath and continued. |I can't breathe in here!
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Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • breath — [ breθ ] noun count or uncount *** the air that goes in and out of your body through your nose or mouth: He could feel her warm breath on his face. His breath smelled strongly of alcohol. a. the act of getting air into your lungs by breathing:… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Breath — (br[e^]th), n. [OE. breth, breeth, AS. br[=ae][eth] odor, scent, breath; cf. OHG. br[=a]dam steam, vapor, breath, G. brodem, and possibly E. {Brawn}, and {Breed}.] 1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration; air which, in the process of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • breath — ► NOUN 1) air taken into or expelled from the lungs. 2) an instance of breathing in or out. 3) a slight movement of air. 4) a sign, hint, or suggestion: he avoided the slightest breath of scandal. ● breath of fresh air Cf. ↑breath of fresh air …   English terms dictionary

  • breath — breath; breath·er; breath·i·ness; breath·ing; breath·ing·ly; breath·less; breath·less·ness; Breath·a·ly·zer; breath·able; breath·a·bil·i·ty; breath·less·ly; breath·tak·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • breath — [breth] n. [ME breth < OE bræth, odor, exhalation < IE base * bher , well up > FERMENT, BARM, BROOD] 1. air taken into the lungs and then let out 2. the act of breathing; respiration 3. the power to breathe easily and naturally [to get… …   English World dictionary

  • Breath — «Breath» Сингл Breaki …   Википедия

  • Breath — Single par Aya Kamiki Face A Breath Face B Mamoritai... Sortie 21 mai 2003 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Breath — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Breath (exhalación) es un montaje de escenario, escrito por Samuel Beckett, una versión modificada de esta performance fue incluida en el musical de Kenneth Tynan Oh! Calcutta!. Este trabajo fue estrenado en octubre… …   Wikipedia Español

  • breath — [n1] respiration animation, breathing, eupnea, exhalation, expiration, gasp, gulp, inhalation, inspiration, insufflation, pant, wheeze; concept 163 breath [n2] wind or something in the air aroma, faint breeze, flatus, flutter, gust, odor, puff,… …   New thesaurus

  • breath|er — «BREE thuhr», noun. 1. a short stop for breath; rest: »He had stopped for a few minutes breather. SYNONYM(S): respite, pause. 2. a person or thing that breathes: »I will chide no breather in the world but myself against whom I know most faults… …   Useful english dictionary

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