breathe definition

1. draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
• examples: I can breathe better when the air is clean
• examples: The patient is respiring
2. be alive
• examples: Every creature that breathes
3. impart as if by breathing
• examples: He breathed new life into the old house
4. allow the passage of air through
• examples: Our new synthetic fabric breathes and is perfect for summer wear
5. utter or tell
• examples: not breathe a word
6. manifest or evince
• examples: She breathes the Christian spirit
7. reach full flavor by absorbing air and being let to stand after having been uncorked
• examples: This rare Bordeaux must be allowed to breathe for at least 2 hours