breathe - Definition & Meaning

breathe

Third Person

breathes

Present Participle

breathing

Past Tense

breathed

Past Participle

breathed

to take air into one's lungs and let it out again

She breathes deeply to calm her nerves before the presentation.
The yoga instructor teaches participants how to breathe mindfully.
The athlete breathes rhythmically during the warm-up exercises.
The scuba diver is breathing through the oxygen tank underwater.
The patient has breathed with the help of a ventilator in the ICU.

Synonyms:

take a breath respire suspire

to be fully immersed in or deeply dedicated to a particular interest or activity

transitive

He breathes football, spending every weekend watching and playing it.
They breathe music, constantly composing, playing, and listening.
She breathes art, devoting hours each day to painting and sketching.
He breathes business, reading every article and attending every conference.
He breathes fitness, training daily and sharing tips with others.

Antonyms:

unable

to subtly give or instill something, as if through gentle influence

transitive

The teacher breathed new life into her lessons, making them engaging.
His words breathed hope into the hearts of the struggling team.
She breathed inspiration into the project, giving it a fresh direction.
The performance breathed energy into the crowd, lifting spirits.
The author breathed passion into each page of the novel.

to continue existing or stay alive

She found hope in knowing that he still breathed, even after the accident.
As long as you breathe, there's a chance to start over.
Though weak, she continued to breathe, giving her family hope.
As long as they breathed, they vowed to keep fighting.
He was grateful just to breathe after the close call.

to release or emit something, such as gas or a smell, in a way similar to breathing

transitive

The flower breathed a sweet fragrance into the air.
The vent breathed a faint odor of dampness into the room.
The earth breathed warmth from the cracks in the soil.
The plant seemed to breathe a fresh scent with every breeze.
The volcano breathed ash and steam, signaling its eruption.

Synonyms:

pass off emit

(of wine) to interact with oxygen after it has been opened, usually by decanting or swirling in the glass

Breathing wine, also known as aerating, is a process in which wine is exposed to air before drinking in order to enhance its flavor and aroma. When wine is exposed to air, it begins to oxidize, which can help to soften tannins and release more complex flavors and aromas. There are several ways to breathe wine, including decanting the wine into a carafe or other container and allowing it to sit for several hours, or simply pouring the wine into a glass and allowing it to sit for a few minutes before drinking. Some wine enthusiasts also use special aerating devices, such as wine aerators or decanters with built-in aerators, to speed up the breathing process. Breathing can be particularly beneficial for young, tannic red wines, which may be quite harsh and astringent when first opened. By allowing the wine to breathe, the tannins can soften and the wine can become more approachable and enjoyable. However, it is important to note that not all wines benefit from breathing, and some delicate white wines or older red wines may actually lose flavor and freshness if exposed to air for too long.

She let the red wine breathe for a few minutes before pouring.
The sommelier recommended allowing the wine to breathe to bring out its full taste.
He swirled the wine in his glass, giving it a chance to breathe.
The wine needs to breathe a bit longer to release its rich aromas.
They poured the wine into a decanter to let it breathe properly.