Breath
/brɛθ/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe air inhaled or exhaled in breathing.
/brɛθ/
The air inhaled or exhaled by a living organism.
He took a deep breath before diving into the pool.
💡 Simply: Air you breathe in and out.
More Examples
The cold air took her breath away.
How It's Used
"The doctor checked the patient's breath for signs of distress."
"She held her breath while crossing the rickety bridge."
To inhale and exhale.
/briːð/
To inhale and exhale air.
Breathe deeply and relax.
💡 Simply: To take air into and out of your lungs.
More Examples
The baby breathed softly in its sleep.
How It's Used
"The runner breathed heavily after the race."
Idioms & expressions
catch one's breath
To pause to recover one's breath after exertion.
"She stopped to catch her breath after running up the stairs."
From Old English *brǣþ, from Proto-Germanic *brāþō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gwʰeh₂-.
The word 'breath' has been used in a similar way for centuries, often referencing life force or spirit.
Memory tip
Think of 'breathe' - it's the air you take in and let out.
Word Origin
"vapor, steam; a gust of wind"