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).
Meanings
(not-comparable, of a consonant or vowel) voiceless, surd; contrasting with voice (breath sounds, voice sounds)
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).
Meanings
(uncountable) The act or process of breathing.
Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Afterglow”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 168:
The child's breath came quickly and unevenly.
I could hear the breath of the runner behind me.
(countable) A single act of breathing in or out; a breathing of air.
I took a deep breath and started the test.
She knew from avalanche safety courses that outstretched hands might puncture the ice surface and alert rescuers. She knew that if victims ended up buried under the snow, cupped hands in front of the face could provide a small pocket of air for the mouth and nose. Without it, the first breaths could create a suffocating ice mask. 2012 December 26, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2013:
Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.[…]She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
(uncountable) Air expelled from the lungs.
I could feel the runner's breath on my shoulder.
(countable) A rest or pause.
Let's stop for a breath when we get to the top of the hill.
(countable, uncountable) A small amount of something, such as wind, or common sense.
Even with all the windows open, there is hardly a breath of air in here.
If she had a breath of common sense, she would never have spoken to the man in the first place.
the breath of flowers 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Gardens”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
Autumn[…]Who wakenest with thy balmy breath 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “(please specify |part=Prologue or Epilogue, or |canto=I to CXXIX)”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Gentle exercise, causing a quicker respiration.
an after dinner's breath c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
ko 숨 (act or process of breathing) · oc alen (rest or pause) · yi אָטעם (air expelled from the lungs) · bn দম (act or process of breathing) · sq frymë (air expelled from the lungs) · el αναπνοή (act or process of breathing) · ru о́тдых (rest or pause) · da ånde (act or process of breathing) · fr haleine (air expelled from the lungs) · de Atemzug (single act of breathing in and out) · tr nefes (air expelled from the lungs) · mnc ᡝᡵᡤᡝᠨ (act or process of breathing) · es huelgo (air expelled from the lungs) · ota باد (air expelled from the lungs) · sdn alènu (air expelled from the lungs) · nl adempauze (rest or pause) · ca respir (act or process of breathing) · mk здив (single act of breathing in and out) · gl alento (act or process of breathing) · fi uloshengitys (air expelled from the lungs) · hy շունչ (single act of breathing in and out) · qu samay (act or process of breathing) · ru дыха́ние (act or process of breathing) · uk диха́ння (act or process of breathing) · bcl hinangos (air expelled from the lungs) · cmn 呼吸 (air expelled from the lungs) · es respiración (single act of breathing in and out) · fi hengitys (act or process of breathing) · de Atmen (act or process of breathing) · ru вздох (air expelled from the lungs) · it lena (act or process of breathing) · gl alento (air expelled from the lungs) · es respiración (air expelled from the lungs) · fa-ira بازْدَم (air expelled from the lungs) · ro suflu (single act of breathing in and out) · pt folga (rest or pause) · id napas (act or process of breathing) · tg нафас (act or process of breathing) · de Atem (air expelled from the lungs) · ro suflu (air expelled from the lungs) · sk dych (air expelled from the lungs) · bcl hangos (rest or pause) · bg изди́шване (single act of breathing in and out) · ca alè (rest or pause) · cy anadl (air expelled from the lungs) · az nəfəs (air expelled from the lungs) · es hálito (single act of breathing in and out) · evn эрин (act or process of breathing) · cmn 氣息 /气息 (act or process of breathing) · kea bófe (air expelled from the lungs) · lv elpa (air expelled from the lungs) · pt alento (act or process of breathing) · fa-ira نَفَس (act or process of breathing) · lb Otem (air expelled from the lungs) · tyz ai (act or process of breathing) · ca alè (single act of breathing in and out) · ka ჩასუნთქვა (single act of breathing in and out) · ang ǣþm (single act of breathing in and out) · el αναπνοή (single act of breathing in and out) · hu légzés (act or process of breathing) · br anal (single act of breathing in and out) · sv andetag (single act of breathing in and out) · ja 呼吸 (act or process of breathing) · kea bafu (air expelled from the lungs) · he הֶבֶל פֶּה (air expelled from the lungs) · hu lehelet (air expelled from the lungs) · sq frymë (rest or pause) · nl asem (air expelled from the lungs) · sq frymë (single act of breathing in and out) · hi दम (act or process of breathing) · ur سان٘س (act or process of breathing) · be узды́х (act or process of breathing) · es respiro (act or process of breathing) · sdc arenu (air expelled from the lungs) · cs dech (single act of breathing in and out) · ky өмүр (act or process of breathing) · grc πνοή (single act of breathing in and out) · ky жашоо (act or process of breathing) · grc πνοή (act or process of breathing) · wa alinne (air expelled from the lungs) · zza nefes (act or process of breathing) · gl respiración (act or process of breathing) · ko 호흡 (act or process of breathing) · lv dvašošana (act or process of breathing) · so neef (act or process of breathing) · ky дем (act or process of breathing) · it fiato (air expelled from the lungs) · tg нафаскашӣ (act or process of breathing) · am ነፍስ (air expelled from the lungs) · ja 息 (air expelled from the lungs) · pl oddychanie (act or process of breathing) · fa-ira دَم (single act of breathing in and out) · uga 𐎐𐎔𐎌 (act or process of breathing) · ky дем алуу (act or process of breathing) · ro alenă (air expelled from the lungs) · ckb ھەناسە (act or process of breathing) · hi दम (single act of breathing in and out) · fr respiration (act or process of breathing) · gl folgo (air expelled from the lungs) · sh dȁh (act or process of breathing) · ka სუნთქვა (act or process of breathing) · vi hô hấp (act or process of breathing) · es vaharada (act or process of breathing) · ro halenă (air expelled from the lungs) · hi सांस (act or process of breathing) · ar نَفَس (single act of breathing in and out) · es huelgo (single act of breathing in and out) · gv ennal (act or process of breathing) · az nəfəs (single act of breathing in and out) · gld эриэн (act or process of breathing) · as উশাহ-নিশাহ (act or process of breathing) · nb åndedrag (single act of breathing in and out) · ga anáil (act or process of breathing) · cs dech (act or process of breathing) · ota باد (act or process of breathing) · kk дем (act or process of breathing) · kmr nefes (act or process of breathing) · el ανάσα (air expelled from the lungs) · es respiración (act or process of breathing) · az tənəffüs (act or process of breathing) · bg ди́шане (act or process of breathing) · ta மூச்சு (act or process of breathing) · pt hálito (air expelled from the lungs) · la spīritus (act or process of breathing) · sa प्राण (act or process of breathing) · wa shofla (air expelled from the lungs) · te శ్వాస (act or process of breathing) · ota نفس (air expelled from the lungs) · ota دم (single act of breathing in and out) · kmr bêhn (act or process of breathing) · as নিশাহ (act or process of breathing) · ckb ھەناسە (single act of breathing in and out) · fa-ira دَم (rest or pause) · qu sama (rest or pause) · hi श्वास (act or process of breathing) · ms nafas (act or process of breathing) · pt respiro (rest or pause) · es respiro (rest or pause) · te ఊపిరి (act or process of breathing) · hi नफस (act or process of breathing) · ota صولوق (act or process of breathing) · sv andhämtning (rest or pause) · bg вди́шване (single act of breathing in and out) · ky желдөө (act or process of breathing) · ckb ھەناسە (air expelled from the lungs) · wym ödum (air expelled from the lungs) · tet nawan (act or process of breathing) · sm mānava (act or process of breathing) · ru дыха́ние (air expelled from the lungs) · myv лекстямо (act or process of breathing) · fi henkäys (single act of breathing in and out) · pdt Odem (act or process of breathing) · ota نفس (act or process of breathing) · id napas (air expelled from the lungs) · tsg napas (act or process of breathing) · nl pauze (rest or pause) · cs dýchání (act or process of breathing) · tg нафасгирӣ (act or process of breathing) · id napas (single act of breathing in and out) · nl asem (single act of breathing in and out) · ru вздох (single act of breathing in and out) · oc alen (air expelled from the lungs) · hi सांस (single act of breathing in and out) · sh dísānje (act or process of breathing) · ar نَفَس (act or process of breathing) · ky тиричилик (act or process of breathing) · cy anadl (act or process of breathing) · nl adem (air expelled from the lungs) · ur نَفَس (act or process of breathing) · it respiro (single act of breathing in and out) · sk oddych (rest or pause) · sv andning (act or process of breathing) · ang ǣþm (act or process of breathing) · ky ичке дем тартуу (act or process of breathing) · msk ginawa (air expelled from the lungs) · gez ነፍስ (air expelled from the lungs) · mk оддишка (rest or pause) · kk дем алу (act or process of breathing) · uz nafas (act or process of breathing) · ltg dvašuot (act or process of breathing) · es vaho (air expelled from the lungs) · cmn 呼吸 (act or process of breathing) · gv ennal (single act of breathing in and out) · oc respiracion (act or process of breathing) · fi henkäys (small amount) · mnb feenei (act or process of breathing) · fr souffle (air expelled from the lungs) · bal ساہ (act or process of breathing) · pt respiração (single act of breathing in and out) · uz dam (act or process of breathing) · bal نپس (act or process of breathing) · ca alè (air expelled from the lungs) · af asemhaling (act or process of breathing) · el ανάσα (rest or pause) · nb andedrag (single act of breathing in and out) · lt kvėpavimas (act or process of breathing) · ka ამოსუნთქვა (single act of breathing in and out) · nn andedrag (single act of breathing in and out) · tr nefes (act or process of breathing) · es vaho (single act of breathing in and out) · bg дъх (air expelled from the lungs) · nn pust (act or process of breathing) · kmr hilm (act or process of breathing) · nl ademhaling (act or process of breathing) · qu sama (single act of breathing in and out) · mr श्वास (act or process of breathing) · gl folgo (act or process of breathing) · az nəfəs (act or process of breathing) · sk dýchanie (act or process of breathing) · hu lélegzet (air expelled from the lungs) · ht souf (single act of breathing in and out) · pt respiro (single act of breathing in and out) · kk дем (air expelled from the lungs) · nl adem (single act of breathing in and out) · zza fiq (act or process of breathing) · myv лекстявкс (air expelled from the lungs) · mi manawa (act or process of breathing) · ky турмуш (act or process of breathing) · pdt Odem (single act of breathing in and out) · fa-ira دَم (act or process of breathing) · ota دم (act or process of breathing) · is andi (act or process of breathing) · sh да̏х (act or process of breathing) · fi tauko (rest or pause) · sv utandning (air expelled from the lungs) · tg дам (act or process of breathing) · sq frymëmarrje (act or process of breathing) · es aliento (air expelled from the lungs) · ota صولوق (air expelled from the lungs) · ota نفس (single act of breathing in and out) · ca respiració (act or process of breathing) · ru вздох (act or process of breathing) · de Atmung (act or process of breathing) · fi hengitys (air expelled from the lungs) · pl oddech (act or process of breathing) · om hafuura (act or process of breathing) · sc alènu (air expelled from the lungs) · es hálito (air expelled from the lungs) · sh ди́са̄ње (act or process of breathing) · hy շնչառություն (act or process of breathing) · cy anadl (single act of breathing in and out) · pt respiração (act or process of breathing) · be дыха́нне (act or process of breathing) · it alito (air expelled from the lungs) · ky рух (act or process of breathing) · oc alen (single act of breathing in and out) · myv оймень таргсема (act or process of breathing) · pt fôlego (act or process of breathing) · ur دَم (act or process of breathing) · tr soluk (act or process of breathing) · kmr henase (act or process of breathing) · bg диха́ние (air expelled from the lungs) · zlw-ocs dech (act or process of breathing) · msk napas (air expelled from the lungs) · lv dvaša (air expelled from the lungs) · ro respirație (act or process of breathing) · sc álidu (air expelled from the lungs) · de Atempause (rest or pause) · hi नफ़स (act or process of breathing) · ang ǣþm (air expelled from the lungs) · fi hengitys (single act of breathing in and out) · ja 息 (single act of breathing in and out) · ja 呼吸 (single act of breathing in and out) · tr nefes (single act of breathing in and out) · sl dih (act or process of breathing) · he נְשִׁימָה (act or process of breathing) · sv andedräkt (air expelled from the lungs) · mk здив (air expelled from the lungs) · sl dihanje (act or process of breathing) · lb Ootmung (act or process of breathing) · ota دم (air expelled from the lungs) · lv elpošana (act or process of breathing) · as উশাহ (act or process of breathing) · it respiro (act or process of breathing) · aii ܢܲܦ̮ܫܵܐ (act or process of breathing) · gv ennal (air expelled from the lungs) · ota باد (single act of breathing in and out) · uk дих (act or process of breathing) · cs nádech (single act of breathing in and out) · bg о́тдих (rest or pause) · pt bafo (air expelled from the lungs) · pt pingo (small amount) · ky болмуш (act or process of breathing) · cy chwyth (single act of breathing in and out) · bcl hangos (act or process of breathing) · ota صولوق (single act of breathing in and out) · ps سا (act or process of breathing) · or ପ୍ରାଣ (act or process of breathing) · nb pust (act or process of breathing) · fi hengähdystauko (rest or pause) · mk дишење (act or process of breathing) · fr respiration (single act of breathing in and out) · eo spiro (single act of breathing in and out) · ru переды́шка (rest or pause) · unm lèxeon (air expelled from the lungs) · be дыха́ньне (act or process of breathing) · hy շունչ (air expelled from the lungs) · myv лексема (act or process of breathing) · ky дем тартуу (act or process of breathing) · es aliento (single act of breathing in and out) · fr souffle (single act of breathing in and out)
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).