Added 2 October 2026
breathe
/bɹiːð/ verb
In Latin: spīrō, respīrō, hālō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about breathe at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
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To take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.
Fish have gills so they can breathe underwater.
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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.
Origin
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”). More at breath.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)