breathing

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, form-of, gerund, uncountable) gerund of breathe: (uncountable) The act of respiration; (countable) a single instance of this.
2. (countable, uncountable) A diacritical mark indicating aspiration or lack thereof.
3. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Time to recover one's breath; hence, a delay, a spell of time.
4. (countable, uncountable) Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration.
5. (countable, uncountable) Aspiration; secret prayer.

Verb

present participle and gerund of breathe

breathe

1. (intransitive) To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
2. (intransitive) To take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.
3. (transitive) To inhale (a gas) to sustain life.
4. (figuratively, intransitive) To live.
5. (transitive) To draw something into the lungs.
6. (intransitive) To expel air from the lungs, exhale.
7. (transitive) To exhale or expel (something) in the manner of breath.
8. (transitive) To give an impression of, to exude.
9. (transitive) To whisper quietly.
10. To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to emanate; to blow gently.
11. To inspire (scripture).
12. (intransitive) To exchange gases with the environment.
13. (archaic, intransitive) To rest; to stop and catch one's breath.
14. (transitive) To stop, to give (a horse) an opportunity to catch its breath.
15. (transitive) To exercise; to tire by brisk exercise.
16. (figuratively, transitive) To passionately devote much of one's life to (an activity, etc.).

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Synonyms

respiration

breath

ventilation

living

alive

breathe

eupnoeic

respiratory

eupneic

external respiration

inhaling

heaving

blowing

animate

animated

deaeration

sighing

sniffing

waft

life-like

inhalation a pinch of snuff

lung ventilation

respiratory metabolism

respiratory volume

blowing upon

inhaling air

sigh

degassing

existing

gasp

inhalant

inhalation

insufflation

live

Translations

respiration

respirazione

respiración

Atmung

Atem

ademhaling

respiração

αναπνοή

Atmen

respiratoire

souffle

respiració

Beatmung

respiro

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbɹiːðɪŋ/

Etymology

From breathe + -ing.