breathe

present singular third person breathes · participle present breathing · participle past breathed · past breathed · first person past singular breathed · archaic present second person singular breathest · past second person singular breathed · archaic past second person singular breathedst · present singular third person breathes · archaic present singular third person breatheth · past singular third person breathed · past plural breathed · past subjunctive breathed · participle present breathing · participle past breathed

1. intransitiveTo draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.

   Synonyms: respire

2. intransitiveTo take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.

   Fish have gills so they can breathe underwater.

3. transitiveTo inhale (a gas) to sustain life.

   While life as we know it depends on oxygen, scientists have speculated that alien life forms might breathe chlorine or methane.

4. figurativelyintransitiveTo live.

   I will not allow it, as long as I still breathe.

   2 more examples

   I am in health, I breathe.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

   Breathes there a man with soul so dead?

   1805, Walter Scott, “(please specify the page)”, in The Lay of the Last Minstrel: A Poem, London: […] [James Ballantyne] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], and A[rchibald] Constable and Co., […], →OCLC

5. transitiveTo draw something into the lungs.

   Try not to breathe too much smoke.

6. intransitiveTo expel air from the lungs, exhale.

   If you breathe on a mirror, it will fog up.

7. transitiveTo exhale or expel (something) in the manner of breath.

   The flowers breathed a heady perfume.

   1 more example

   Mountain Drakes breathe fire, Ice Drakes breathe ice, Swamp Drakes breathe acid, and Forest Drakes breathe lightning.

   2012, Timothy Groves, The Book Of Creatures, →ISBN, page 85

8. transitiveTo give an impression of, to exude.

   The decor positively breathes classical elegance.

9. transitiveTo whisper quietly.

   He breathed the words into her ear, but she understood them all.

10. To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to emanate; to blow gently.

    The wind breathes through the trees.

    2 more examples

    The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.

    1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

    There breathes a living fragrance from the shore.

    1812–1818, Lord Byron, “(please specify |canto=I to IV)”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. A Romaunt, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […]; William Blackwood, Edinburgh; and John Cumming, Dublin; by Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number)

11. chiefly Evangelical and Charismatic ChristianityTo inspire (scripture).

    […] that God, who breathed the Scriptures, "cannot lie," […]

    1917, J. C. Ferdinand Pittman, Bible Truths Illustrated: For the Use of Preachers, Teachers, Bible-school, Christian Endeavor, Temperance and Other Christian Workers, page 168

    2 more examples

    The affirmation before us, then, will be, "All scripture is divinely breathed."

    1850, John Howard Hinton, On the Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures. A lecture, etc, page 16

    Paul says that since God breathed the Scriptures, they are therefore useful; he did not put it the other way around (i.e., that they are useful, therefore inspired).

    2010, Jay E. Adams, The Christian Counselor's Manual: The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling, Zondervan, →ISBN

12. intransitiveTo exchange gases with the environment.

    Uncork the wine and leave it on the table for a few minutes to allow it to breathe.

13. intransitiveOf a material etc., to allow gases to pass through.

    Garments made of certain new materials breathe well and keep the skin relatively dry during exercise.

14. archaicintransitiveTo rest; to stop and catch one's breath.

    Well! breathe awhile, and then to it again!

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]

    1 more example

    Thenne they lasshed to gyder many sad strokes / & tracyd and trauercyd now bakward / now sydelyng hurtlyng to gyders lyke two bores / & that same tyme they felle both grouelyng to the erthe / Thus they fought styll withoute ony reposynge two houres and neuer brethed

    1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “lxiiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book X

15. transitiveTo stop, to give (a horse) an opportunity to catch its breath.

    At higher altitudes you need to breathe your horse more often.

16. transitiveTo exercise; to tire by brisk exercise.
17. figurativelytransitiveTo passionately devote much of one's life to (an activity, etc.).

    ―Do you like hiking? ―Are you kidding? I breathe hiking.