breathing Definition

breathe
verb breathed, breathing

tr & intr
1. To respire by alternately drawing air into and expelling it from the lungs.
tr & intr
2. To say, speak or sound quietly; to whisper.
intr
3. To take breath; to rest or pause.

Example: haven't had a moment to breathe
intr
4. Said of fabric or leather, etc: to allow air and moisture, etc to pass through.
intr
5. Said of wine: to develop flavour when exposed to the air.
6. To live; to continue to draw breath.
intr
7. To blow softly.

Example: warm air breathing over my face
8. To show or express.

Example: She breathed confidence
9. To allow (eg a horse) to rest; to give breathing-space to something.

Idiom: breathe again (breathe easily, breathe easy, breathe freely)

colloq
To relax or feel relieved after a period of anxiety, tension or fear.

Idiom: breathe down someone's neck

colloq
To watch or supervise them so closely that they feel uncomfortable.

Idiom: breathe fire

colloq
To speak very angrily; to be furious.

Idiom: breathe one's last

euphemistic
To die.

Etymology: 13c as from breath.

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breathing
noun

1. In terrestrial animals: the process whereby air is alternately drawn into the lungs and then expelled from them, as a result of which oxygen is taken into the body and carbon dioxide is released from it.
2a. phonetics.
A sign (‘) used in ancient Greek to indicate that the initial vowel is pronounced with an h- sound;
Form: rough breathing (also)
2b. phonetics.
A sign (‘) used in ancient Greek to indicate the absence of such an aspirate.
Form: smooth breathing (also)