breathe
breathe / brē[voicedth]/ • v. [intr.] take air into the lungs and then expel it, esp. as a regular physiological process: she was wheezing as she breathed [tr.] we are polluting the air we breathe. ∎ be or seem to be alive because of this: at least I'm still breathing. ∎ [with direct speech] say something with quiet intensity: “We're together at last,” she breathed. ∎ (of an animal or plant) respire or exchange gases: plants breathe through their roots. ∎ (of material or soil) admit or emit air or moisture: let your lawn breathe. ∎ [tr.] allow (a horse) to rest after exertion.PHRASES: breathe down someone's neck follow closely behind someone. ∎ constantly check up on someone.breathe a sigh of relief exhale noisily as a sign of relief (often used hyperbolically): they breathed a great sigh of relief after the election was won.