<p><strong>verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used without object) to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.</li><li>(in speech) to control the outgoing breath in producing voice and speech sounds.</li><li>to pause, as for breath or rest: How about giving me a chance to breathe?</li><li>to move gently or blow lightly, as air.</li><li>to live; exist: Hardly a person breathes who has not known great sorrow.</li><li>to be redolent or suggestive: a poem breathing of the sights and sounds of rustic life.</li><li>(of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily: The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.</li><li>(of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.</li><li>(of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.</li></ul><p><strong>verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to inhale and exhale in respiration.</li><li>to exhale: Dragons breathe fire.</li><li>to inject as if by breathing; infuse: She breathed life into the party.</li><li>to give utterance to; whisper: She breathed a prayer of thanks when everyone escaped the fire unharmed.</li><li>to express; manifest: This coming-of-age novel breathes the torments and joys of adolescence.</li><li>Synonyms: divulge, reveal, voice, murmur, tell, utter.</li><li>to allow to rest or recover breath: After this next hill, we should breathe the horses.</li><li>to deprive of breath; tire; exhaust.</li><li>to cause to pant; exercise.</li></ul>