breathe

4 definitions • 9 examples

to move air or something else into and out of the lungs:

breathe (something) in The doctor told me to breathe in and hold it for three seconds.

Breathing in just a small amount of the gas can cause serious damage.

breathe (something) out The instructor told us to take a deep breath and then breathe out slowly.

The man at the next table was breathing out smoke through his nostrils.

It's so airless in here - I can hardly breathe.

I'm sorry if I'm breathing (= blowing out air containing) garlic fumes all over you!

to say something very quietly:

"Here they come," he breathed.

If you allow wine to breathe, you open the bottle for a short time before you drink from it, in order to improve the wine's flavour.

to take air into the lungs and let it out again:

[ I ] He was so choked up with emotion that it was hard to breathe.

[ T ] It was great to be outside again and breathe the fresh air.