breathing


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Related to breathing: Breathing rate, Breathing mechanism

breath·ing

 (brē′thĭng)
n.
1.
a. The act or process of respiration.
b. A single breath.
2. The time required to take one's breath.
3.
a. Either of two marks, the rough breathing ( ̔ ) and the smooth breathing ( ′ ), used in Greek to indicate presence or absence of aspiration.
b. The presence or absence of aspiration indicated by either of these marks.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

breathing

(ˈbriːðɪŋ)
n
1. (Physiology) the passage of air into and out of the lungs to supply the body with oxygen
2. a single breath: a breathing between words.
3. an utterance: a breathing of hate.
4. a soft movement, esp of air
5. a rest or pause
6. (Phonetics & Phonology) phonetics
a. expulsion of breath (rough breathing) or absence of such expulsion (smooth breathing) preceding the pronunciation of an initial vowel or rho in ancient Greek
b. either of two symbols indicating this
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

breath•ing

(ˈbri ðɪŋ)

n.
1. the act of respiration.
2. a single breath, or the short time required for this.
3. a pause, as for breath.
4. utterance or words.
5. a gentle stirring, as of wind.
6.
a. the manner of articulating the beginning of a word in ancient Greek, with or without aspiration.
b. one of the two symbols used to indicate this.
[1350–1400]
breath′ing•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Breathing

 
  1. Alimentary canal … working like a derrick without a soul —Tess Slesinger
  2. Breath … as black as funerals —Miles Gibson

    See Also: BLACK

  3. (His) breath came heavily, like puffs of wind over a stormy sea —Walter De La Mare
  4. Breath came like puffs from a steam locomotive —Gerald Tomlinson
  5. Breath clear and sweet like a child’s —Flannery O’Connor
  6. Breathed as if she had a fever —Mark Helprin
  7. Breathed deeply like a swimmer coming up for air —George Garrett
  8. (He) breathed like a prisoner set free —Willa Cather
  9. Breathe hard like a horse when you take the saddle off —O. Henry
  10. Breathe like a chugging train —Tony Ardizzone
  11. Breathe like a second-hand bicycle pump —O. Henry
  12. Breath [from snoring] grating like bark stripped from a tree —T. Coraghessan Boyle
  13. Breathing as rapidly as an exhausted dog —Derek Lambert
  14. Breathing as softly as a butterfly —Ellen Glasgow
  15. Breathing as though stream engines were working his lungs —Pat Conroy
  16. Breathing like a hard-run horse —James Crumley
  17. Breathing like almost any sort of man who has just been chased for a mile or so uphill by a bull in the pink of condition —Kingsley Amis
  18. Breathing like an escape valve —Joseph C. Lincoln
  19. Breathing like a tire pump —Dashiell Hammett
  20. Breathing like the friction of rusted gears —T. Coraghessan Boyle
  21. Breathing like two hippos with a chest cold —Jane Wagner

    This line, spoken by the character Paul (interpreted by Lily Tomlin), describes his participation at his wife’s labor.

  22. Breathing, quick and hoarse like a dog’s panting —Albert Camus
  23. Breathing … slow and rhythmical, like the bellows at a forge rising and falling —Henri-Pierre Roche
  24. Breathing [an overweight man’s] sounded like someone sitting down on a leather couch —Sue Grafton
  25. Breathing with irregularity, like an overworked horse. Breathing deeply like a man asleep —George Garrett
  26. Breath is like the gentle air of spring —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  27. Breath … like the steam of apple-pies —Robert Greene
  28. Breath popping like steam valves in old boilers —Denis Johnson
  29. (Rankin’s) breath rushed out like an undertow beneath the words —Richard Moran
  30. Breath sweet as May —Christina Rossetti
  31. The breath was pumped from their bodies as though from machines —Vicki Baum
  32. Breath [of dying woman] whistled like the wind in a keyhole —Edith Wharton
  33. Each breath was expelled in a puff, as if one were blowing a trumpet, Dizzy Gillespie fashion —Stephen King
  34. Each breath was like a hill to climb —Barbara Reid
  35. Gasped for breath like a wounded animal —Vicki Baum
  36. Gasped the air deeply, like a diver escaping from a watery grave —Jan Kubicki
  37. Gasping like a fish stranded on a sandbank —F. van Wyck Mason

    An extension of “Gasped like a stranded fish.”

  38. Gulped in air through her mouth, straining like a nearly drowned man dragged out of the water —William Moseley
  39. Gulping in air like a swimmer exhausted from fighting a heavy surf —Margaret Millar
  40. Hack and wheeze like an overworked horse —T. Coraghessan Boyle
  41. Her breath seems to flow like the water in a frozen stream —Rochelle Ratner
  42. His breath [as he kissed her hand] was between her fingers like a web on summer grass —Ellen Gilchrist
  43. His breath was staccato, like obstructed sobs —Nancy Huddleston Packer
  44. Holds her breath like a seal —John Berryman
  45. Huff like windy giants —W. D. Snodgrass
  46. Let out a long, whistling breath like a deflating tire —Cornell Woolrich
  47. Lungs..blowing like leathern bellows —Frank Ross
  48. (Steam’s) lungs fluttered like a sparrow’s heartbeat —Z. Vance Wilson
  49. (I was panting and) my breath came like fire —Louise Erdrich
  50. Pant like a fat man running for a bus —Lawrence Durrell
  51. Panting like a steamboat —Joyce Cary
  52. Puffed like a leaky steam pipe —O. Henry
  53. Puffing like a blown shire horse —Donald Seaman
  54. A rasping gasp as though he were swallowing his false teeth —W. P. Kinsella
  55. Sharp intake of breath, like a toy balloon suddenly deflated —Ralph Ellison
  56. Snort [while asleep] like a timid locomotive —MacDonald Harris
  57. Sound of breathing … like the soft crackle of tissue paper —Frank Swinnerton
  58. Sucked air like a drowning fish —Miles Gibson
  59. Took as much breath as if I’d heaved a shot put —Larry McMurtry
  60. Wheezing … like a horse with a progressive lung disease —T. Coraghessan Boyle
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.breathing - the bodily process of inhalation and exhalationbreathing - the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
artificial respiration - an emergency procedure whereby breathing is maintained artificially
abdominal breathing - breathing in which most of the respiratory effort is done by the abdominal muscles; "abdominal breathing is practiced by singers"
eupnea, eupnoea - normal relaxed breathing
hyperpnea - energetic (deep and rapid) respiration that occurs normally after exercise or abnormally with fever or various disorders
hypopnea - slow or shallow breathing
hyperventilation - an increased depth and rate of breathing greater than demanded by the body needs; can cause dizziness and tingling of the fingers and toes and chest pain if continued
panting, heaving - breathing heavily (as after exertion)
Cheyne-Stokes respiration, periodic breathing - abnormal respiration in which periods of shallow and deep breathing alternate
smoking, smoke - the act of smoking tobacco or other substances; "he went outside for a smoke"; "smoking stinks"
breathing out, exhalation, expiration - the act of expelling air from the lungs
snoring, stertor, snore - the act of snoring or producing a snoring sound
sniffle, snuffle, snivel - the act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested)
wheeze - breathing with a husky or whistling sound
second wind - the return of relatively easy breathing after initial exhaustion during continuous exertion
breathing in, inhalation, intake, aspiration, inspiration - the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing
bodily function, bodily process, body process, activity - an organic process that takes place in the body; "respiratory activity"
Adj.1.breathing - passing or able to pass air in and out of the lungs normally; sometimes used in combination; "the boy was disappointed to find only skeletons instead of living breathing dinosaurs"; "the heavy-breathing person on the telephone"
breathless, dyspneal, dyspneic, dyspnoeal, dyspnoeic - not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty; "breathless at thought of what I had done"; "breathless from running"; "followed the match with breathless interest"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
dýchání
vejrtrækning
hengitys
disanje
呼吸
호흡
dihanje
andning
การหายใจ
sự hô hấp

breathing

[ˈbriːðɪŋ]
A. Nrespiración f
heavy breathingresuello m
B. CPD breathing apparatus Nrespirador m
breathing space N (fig) → respiro m
breathing tube Ntubo m de respiración
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

breathing

[ˈbriːðɪŋ] nrespiration fbreathing exercise nexercice m de respirationbreathing space n(moment m de) répit m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

breathing

n (= respiration)Atmung f; the child’s peaceful breathingdie ruhigen Atemzüge des Kindes

breathing

:
breathing apparatus
breathing mask
nAtemmaske f
breathing space
n (fig)Atempause f, → Ruhepause f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

breathing

[ˈbriːðɪŋ] nrespiro, respirazione f
heavy breathing (on phone) → respiro ansimante (di maniaco)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

breathing

تَنَفّْس dýchání vejrtrækning Atmen αναπνοή respiración hengitys respiration disanje respiro 呼吸 호흡 ademhaling pusting oddychanie respiração дыхание andning การหายใจ nefes alma sự hô hấp 呼吸
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

breath·ing

n. respiración, aliento, respiro; inhalación, aspiración;
___ exercisesejercicios respiratorios;
___ space, ___ timedescanso, parada, reposo.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
If I say, that in any creature breathing is only a function indispensable to vitality, inasmuch as it withdraws from the air a certain element, which being subsequently brought into contact with the blood imparts to the blood its vivifying principle, I do not think I shall err; though I may possibly use some superfluous scientific words.
All this while the little fat musicker was breathing the notes:
The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops.
The sound of musketry at the foot of the hill, now diminishing, now increasing, seemed like someone's breathing. He listened intently to the ebb and flow of these sounds.
A moment after the fairy's entrance the window was blown open by the breathing of the little stars, and Peter dropped in.
With wide-open mouth he was breathing the towel-driven air furnished by two of the seconds, while listening to the counsel of still another second who talked with low voice in his ear and at the same time sponged off his face, shoulders, and chest.
All my will was concentrated on breathing--on breathing the air in the hugest lung-full gulps I could, pumping the greatest amount of air into my lungs in the shortest possible time.
"Oh, go to sleep!" advised Tom, and, turning over, he was soon breathing heavily and regularly, indicating that he, at least, had taken his own advice.
In another second he was swung through the sunlight, and laid out breathing hard in a death-bed of buttercups and daisies.
Only a slight oily swell rose and fell like a gentle breathing, and showed that the eternal sea was still moving and living.
They carried the sleeping girl to a pretty spot beside the river, far enough from the poppy field to prevent her breathing any more of the poison of the flowers, and here they laid her gently on the soft grass and waited for the fresh breeze to waken her.
They were just in time to see another figure standing against a pedestal near the reclining marble: a breathing blooming girl, whose form, not shamed by the Ariadne, was clad in Quakerish gray drapery; her long cloak, fastened at the neck, was thrown backward from her arms, and one beautiful ungloved hand pillowed her cheek, pushing somewhat backward the white beaver bonnet which made a sort of halo to her face around the simply braided dark-brown hair.