Breath Meaning and Definition
Breath
Pronunciation
/brɛθ/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
The air that we breathe in and out, necessary for human life, consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases.
Examples
- She took a deep breath before going onstage.
- Hold your breath while diving.
Synonyms
- Rhythm
- Pulse
Antonyms
- Gas
- Vacuum
Etymology
The word “breath” comes from Old English “brēoþ”, which is derived from Proto-Germanic “*brēthiz”, related to Proto-Indo-European “*bʰre-“.
Usage Notes
When used with a verb, “breath” is often used to indicate something that is slow, quiet, or barely perceptible, such as “she breathed softly” or “he breathed heavily”.
Cultural References
In many cultures, the concept of breath is closely tied to the concept of spirit or soul. For example, in Hinduism, the breath is seen as a symbol of the divine and is used in meditation.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- breathe a sigh of relief
- breathe heavily
- breathe deeply
Related Words or Phrases
- Respiration
- Vitality
- Life force
Collocations
- breathe life into
- breathe into
- breathe with
Frequency of Use
According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English, “breath” is one of the top 100 most frequently used nouns in American English.
Common Misspellings
- Braith
- Brade