breathe

Forms

present (v1): breathe
past (v2): breathed
past participle (v3): breathed
present participle: breathing
3rd person singular: breathes

Definitions

1.To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
- It's difficult to breathe when humidity is high.
2.To take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.
- Fish have gills so they can breathe underwater.
3.To 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.To live.
- Breathes there a man with soul so dead?
- I will not allow it, as long as I still breathe.
- I am in health, I breathe.

Frequency

Overall

Uncommon· #2205

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Rare
General reading & writing: Rare
Academic: Rare
Literature: Rare

Related words

Word family

breathing

Etymology

From Middle English brethen (“to breathe, blow, exhale, odour”), derived from Middle English breth (“breath”).

Eclipsed Middle English ethien and orðiæn, from Old English ēþian and orþian (“to breathe”); as well as Middle English anden, onden, from Old Norse anda (“to breathe”).