Dictionary

breeze en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /bɹiːz/

Etymology

From the earlier (nautical) term brise, brize (“breeze”), from Middle English brees (“wind”). Ultimate origin obscure. Variously supposed to derive from a Germanic source like Saterland Frisian Briese (“breeze”), West Frisian brys (“a cool wind”), Dutch bries (“breeze”), early Dutch brysen (“to blow cool and fresh”), or from Spanish brisa (“northeast wind”). The earliest attestations are in Middle English brees (1460), Catalan brisa, and Italian brezza (all in 15th century), with Spanish (1504) and Portuguese briza (16th century) following closely after. The aforementioned Dutch cognates and French brise, however, are attested later than the term in English. The only internal hypothesis for any of those languages is a modification of Old Occitan bisa (“strong wind”), which is not widely accepted. Compare also Albanian breshër (“hail”).

Meanings

1. A light, gentle wind.
   • 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:
   • Into a gradual calm the breezes sink. 1793, William Wordsworth, An Evening Walk:
   • little flutters of breeze shook the white hats of the daisies 1878, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Poganuc People: Their Loves and Lives, page 199:
   • The breeze rustled the papers on her desk.
2. (figuratively) Any activity that is easy, not testing or difficult.
   • The eight-minute connection to East Midlands Railway is a breeze. The train is 170208, its First Class downrated, so I enjoy the wider seats for the hour to Ely, where I arrive a couple of minutes early. 2025 October 15, 'Mystery Shopper', “About Anglia... and high scores”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 54:
   • After studying Latin, Spanish was a breeze.
3. Wind blowing across a cricket match, whatever its strength.
4. An excited or ruffled state of feeling; a flurry of excitement; a disturbance; a quarrel.
   • The discovery produced a breeze.
5. A brief workout for a racehorse.

Forms

Coordinates

hurricane (gentle wind) · gale (gentle wind) · storm (gentle wind)

Deriveds

breeze-block · fresh breeze · moderate breeze · seabreeze · split the breeze · gentle breeze · nightbreeze · breezen · coke breeze · breezy · breezelike · shoot the breeze · mackerel breeze · breezeless · strong breeze · Seabreeze · breezefly · Malibu bay breeze · bat the breeze · bay breeze · upbreeze · land breeze · Morning Breeze · light breeze · breezeway · sea breeze

Synonyms

doddle · walk in the park · walkover · cinch · cakewalk · piece of cake

Translations (147)

hu szellő (a light, gentle wind) · tr meltem (a light, gentle wind) · it ora (a light, gentle wind) · es brisa (a light, gentle wind) · eo venteto (a light, gentle wind) · es vahaje (a light, gentle wind) · ro adiere (a light, gentle wind) · de Kinderspiel (activity that is easy) · ang hweoðu (a light, gentle wind) · pl wietrzyk (a light, gentle wind) · cy awel (a light, gentle wind) · pt tranquilo (activity that is easy) · de Windchen (a light, gentle wind) · nrf brise (a light, gentle wind) · es papaya (activity that is easy) · fa نسیم (a light, gentle wind) · ur نسیم (a light, gentle wind) · mk ве́тре (a light, gentle wind) · ro briză (a light, gentle wind) · mk ве́трец (a light, gentle wind) · it brezza (a light, gentle wind) · ka სიო (a light, gentle wind) · bcl harupohop (a light, gentle wind) · ky жел (a light, gentle wind) · mi kōtengitengi (a light, gentle wind) · es breva (activity that is easy) · hil huyuhoy (a light, gentle wind) · chl 'eel yakish (a light, gentle wind) · ka ნიავი (a light, gentle wind) · sh ветрић (a light, gentle wind) · tr hafif rüzgâr (a light, gentle wind) · et tuuleõhk (a light, gentle wind) · tr esinti (a light, gentle wind) · grc αὔρα (a light, gentle wind) · hy զեփյուռ (a light, gentle wind) · fr gâteau (activity that is easy) · ar نَسِيم (a light, gentle wind) · ar سَهْل (activity that is easy) · ca brisa (a light, gentle wind) · cmn 微風 /微风 (a light, gentle wind) · io brizo (a light, gentle wind) · ro joacă de copii (activity that is easy) · cmn 清風 /清风 (a light, gentle wind) · uk вітере́ць (a light, gentle wind) · pl lekki powiew (a light, gentle wind) · es pan comido (activity that is easy) · tr çocuk oyuncağı (activity that is easy) · bg бриз (a light, gentle wind) · ru пустя́к (activity that is easy) · cs brnkačka (activity that is easy) · tr çok kolay iş (activity that is easy) · fo lot (a light, gentle wind) · nb bris (a light, gentle wind) · la ventulus (a light, gentle wind) · nl bries (a light, gentle wind) · pl wicherek (a light, gentle wind) · nv níłchʼi (a light, gentle wind) · sk bríza (a light, gentle wind) · lv vēsma (a light, gentle wind) · lt vėjelis (a light, gentle wind) · nl eitje (activity that is easy) · sk vánok (a light, gentle wind) · as বা (a light, gentle wind) · de Brise (a light, gentle wind) · hi समीर (a light, gentle wind) · ru бриз (a light, gentle wind) · mi hau maiangi (a light, gentle wind) · ota هوا (a light, gentle wind) · uk бриз (a light, gentle wind) · cs vánek (a light, gentle wind) · ja 微風 (a light, gentle wind) · pl wiaterek (a light, gentle wind) · fo gul (a light, gentle wind) · mi rangaranga (a light, gentle wind) · pl bryza (a light, gentle wind) · nci pitzāhuac ehēcatl (a light, gentle wind) · tr nefha (a light, gentle wind) · mi kōmurimuri (a light, gentle wind) · mi kōkōuri (a light, gentle wind) · hu gyerekjáték (activity that is easy) · bcl duros (Naga) (a light, gentle wind) · fi lastenleikki (activity that is easy) · ko 산들바람 (a light, gentle wind) · nl makkie (activity that is easy) · tg шаббода (a light, gentle wind) · ar هَوَاء (a light, gentle wind) · bcl hayahay (a light, gentle wind) · ceb huyuhoy (a light, gentle wind) · az meh (a light, gentle wind) · mi matangi (a light, gentle wind) · mi kāwatawata (a light, gentle wind) · nn bris (a light, gentle wind) · cs větřík (a light, gentle wind) · nl kinderspel (activity that is easy) · ar نَسَمَة (a light, gentle wind) · es papayo (activity that is easy) · km ខ្យល់ (a light, gentle wind) · fi tuulonen (a light, gentle wind) · hil harupot (a light, gentle wind) · ckb ئاسان (activity that is easy) · pt brisa (a light, gentle wind) · zza pêl (a light, gentle wind) · eo brizo (a light, gentle wind) · ru пустяки́ (activity that is easy) · cu вѣтрьць (a light, gentle wind) · mt żiffa (a light, gentle wind) · ckb با (a light, gentle wind) · uz shabada (a light, gentle wind) · sv bris (a light, gentle wind) · fi tuulenvire (a light, gentle wind) · uk ле́гіт (a light, gentle wind) · pl zefirek (a light, gentle wind) · nci ehcaxoctli (a light, gentle wind) · ckb شەماڵ (a light, gentle wind) · mi rarohau (a light, gentle wind) · da brise (a light, gentle wind) · es chanfa (activity that is easy) · cmn 和風 /和风 (a light, gentle wind) · hy սյուք (a light, gentle wind) · sk vetrík (a light, gentle wind) · as মালয়া-বতাহ (a light, gentle wind) · ang hwiða (a light, gentle wind) · bcl huyuhoy (a light, gentle wind) · sa समीर (a light, gentle wind) · niq chepusoon (a light, gentle wind) · rup avrã (a light, gentle wind) · cy awelon (a light, gentle wind) · ar بَسِيط (activity that is easy) · is gola (a light, gentle wind) · ka ბრიზი (a light, gentle wind) · cs hračka (activity that is easy) · fr brise (a light, gentle wind) · mh an̄ (a light, gentle wind) · ro boare (a light, gentle wind) · kw awel glor (a light, gentle wind) · et tuulehingus (a light, gentle wind) · ru ветеро́к (a light, gentle wind) · lv vējiņš (a light, gentle wind) · ko 미풍 (a light, gentle wind) · eu egurats (a light, gentle wind) · tl simoy (a light, gentle wind) · tr yel (a light, gentle wind) · el αεράκι (a light, gentle wind) · th ลมโชย (a light, gentle wind) · ota صبا (a light, gentle wind) · es alisio (a light, gentle wind) · cmn 輕風 /轻风 (a light, gentle wind)

breeze en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /bɹiːz/

Etymology

From the earlier (nautical) term brise, brize (“breeze”), from Middle English brees (“wind”). Ultimate origin obscure. Variously supposed to derive from a Germanic source like Saterland Frisian Briese (“breeze”), West Frisian brys (“a cool wind”), Dutch bries (“breeze”), early Dutch brysen (“to blow cool and fresh”), or from Spanish brisa (“northeast wind”). The earliest attestations are in Middle English brees (1460), Catalan brisa, and Italian brezza (all in 15th century), with Spanish (1504) and Portuguese briza (16th century) following closely after. The aforementioned Dutch cognates and French brise, however, are attested later than the term in English. The only internal hypothesis for any of those languages is a modification of Old Occitan bisa (“strong wind”), which is not widely accepted. Compare also Albanian breshër (“hail”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive, usually, with along) To move casually, in a carefree manner.
   • Resting most of their first-choice players for Sunday's vital Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia, Wales started with four debutants and breezed into an early lead thanks to headers by captain Ben Davies and Kieffer Moore. 2023 October 11, Dafydd Pritchard, “Wales 4-0 Gibraltar”, in BBC Sport:
2. (intransitive) To blow gently.
   • She's sitting opposite a window that's gently breezing into her face, wafting her hair into cover-girl perfection ... 2014 January 21, Hermione Hoby, “Julia Roberts interview for August: Osage County – 'I might actually go to hell for this ...': Julia Roberts reveals why her violent, Oscar-nominated performance in August: Osage County made her feel 'like a terrible person' [print version: 'I might actually go to hell for this ...' (18 January 2014, p. R4)]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):
3. (intransitive) To take a horse on a light run in order to understand the running characteristics of the horse and to observe it while under motion.
4. (intransitive, of fish) To swim near the surface of the water, causing ripples in the surface.
   • An intermediate line has its place when chasing breezing tuna that are moving at mach speed on the surface. 2011, Mike Rieser, Fly Fishing the Baja and Beyond, page 143:
   • The first was a school of medium-sized ( 10-pound average ) fish that breezed frequently but bit poorly. 1970, Commercial Fisheries Review - Volume 32, page 37:
   • The Queen Mary stood by while a speedboat moved ahead of a breezing school of tuna to deploy the sound projector and a sonobuoy (Figure 6). 1979, Frank T. Awbrey, Thomas Duffy, WIlliam E. Evans, C. Scott Johnson, Wesley Parks, John DeBeer, The Tuna/Porpoise Problem: Dedicated Vessel Research Program, page 10:

Forms

Deriveds

breeze through · breeze up · breezer · breeze past · breeze off

Translations (13)

tr püfür püfür esmek (blow gently) · de wehen (blow gently) · hi समीर (blow gently) · de flitzen (to move casually, in a carefree manner, but not slowly) · sv fläkta (blow gently) · ar نَفَخَتِ الرِّيحُ (blow gently) · tr coşarak gitmek (to move casually, in a carefree manner, but not slowly) · ar نَفَحَتِ الرِّيح (blow gently) · mh an̄ (blow gently) · lv vēsmot (blow gently) · tr hafiften esmek (blow gently) · it spirare (blow gently) · it sospirare (blow gently)

breeze en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /bɹiːz/

Etymology

From Middle English brese, from Old English brēosa, variant of Old English brimsa (“gadfly”), from Proto-Germanic *bremusī (“gadfly”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerem- (“to make a noise, buzz, hum”). Cognate with Dutch brems (“horsefly, warblefly”), German Bremse (“gadfly, horsefly”), Danish bremse (“gadfly, horsefly”), Swedish broms (“gadfly, horsefly”). Related also to Middle English brimse (“gadfly”), French brize (“gadfly”), Old English bremman (“to rage, roar”), Latin fremō (“roar, snort, growl, grumble”). See also bream.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) A gadfly; a horsefly; a strong-bodied dipterous insect of the family Tabanidae.

Forms

breeze en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /bɹiːz/

Etymology

From Middle English brese, from Old English brēosa, variant of Old English brimsa (“gadfly”), from Proto-Germanic *bremusī (“gadfly”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerem- (“to make a noise, buzz, hum”). Cognate with Dutch brems (“horsefly, warblefly”), German Bremse (“gadfly, horsefly”), Danish bremse (“gadfly, horsefly”), Swedish broms (“gadfly, horsefly”). Related also to Middle English brimse (“gadfly”), French brize (“gadfly”), Old English bremman (“to rage, roar”), Latin fremō (“roar, snort, growl, grumble”). See also bream.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To buzz.

Forms

breeze en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /bɹiːz/

Etymology

Probably from French braise (“burning coals”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) Ashes and residue of coal or charcoal, usually from a furnace. See Wikipedia article on Clinker.

Forms