breath

noun

1. 呼吸的空气
   the air that you take into your lungs and send out again
   1. His breath smelt of garlic.
      他呼出的气中有大蒜味。
   2. bad breath (= that smells bad)
      口臭
   3. We had to stop for breath before we got to the top.
      我们不得不喘口气，然后再登山顶。
   4. She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing) .
      她呼吸很困难。
2. 一次吸入的空气
   an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time
   1. to take a deep breath
      深深吸一口气
   2. He recited the whole poem in one breath.
      他一口气背出了整篇诗。
3. 微量；迹象
   a small amount of sth; slight evidence of sth
   1. a breath of suspicion/scandal
      一丝怀疑；丑闻的嫌疑
4. （空气的）微微流动，拂动
   a slight movement of air

1. N-VAR 呼出的气体；气息
   Your breath is the air that you let out through your mouth when you breathe. If someone has bad breath, their breath smells unpleasant.
   1. I could smell the whisky on his breath...
      我能闻到他呼出的威士忌的味道。
   2. Smoking causes bad breath.
      吸烟会导致口臭。
2. N-VAR 吸气
   When you take a breath, you breathe in once.
   1. He took a deep breath, and began to climb the stairs...
      他深吸了一口气，然后开始爬楼梯。
   2. Gasping for breath, she leaned against the door...
      她倚靠在门上，大口喘着气。
   3. He spoke for one and a half hours and barely paused for breath.
      他几乎一口气没停地说了一个半小时。
3. N-SING （风或气流的）一丝，丝毫
   If you say that there is not a breath of wind or air, you are emphasizing that there is no wind and the air is very still.
   1. Not even a breath of wind stirred the pine branches.
      一丝风也没有，松树枝条纹丝不动。
4. N-SING 微量；少许
   A breath of something, is a small amount of it.
   1. It was left to Martina to add a breath of common sense to the proceedings.
      这件事交由马丁娜处理，她会使整个过程显得更符合情理一些。
5. （到室外）呼吸新鲜空气，透口气
   If you go outside for a breath of fresh air or for a breath of air, you go outside because it is unpleasantly warm indoors.
6. PHRASE 令人耳目一新的事物；新鲜刺激的东西
   If you describe something new or different as a breath of fresh air, you mean that it makes a situation or subject more interesting or exciting.
   1. Her brisk treatment of an almost taboo subject was a breath of fresh air.
      她把这个近乎禁忌的话题处理得很轻松，令人耳目一新。
7. PHRASE 喘过气来；恢复正常呼吸
   When you get your breath back after doing something energetic, you start breathing normally again.
   1. I reached out a hand to steady myself against the house while I got my breath back.
      我伸出一只手抵住墙壁撑着身子，让自己喘口气。
8. PHRASE 喘口气；歇口气
   When you catch your breath while you are doing something energetic, you stop for a short time so that you can start breathing normally again.
   1. He had stopped to catch his breath and make sure of his directions.
      他曾停下来歇口气，同时确定一下方向。
9. PHRASE （通常因为震惊）倒吸一口冷气
   If something makes you catch your breath, it makes you take a short breath of air, usually because it shocks you.
   1. Kenny caught his breath as Nikko nearly dropped the bottle.
      尼科差点儿把瓶子摔了，这让肯尼倒吸了一口气。
10. 喘口气；歇口气
    If you do not have time to draw breath, you do not have time to have a break from what you are doing.
11. PHRASE 屏息；止住呼吸
    If you hold your breath, you make yourself stop breathing for a few moments, for example because you are under water.
    1. I held my breath and sank under the water.
       我屏住呼吸沉入水底。
12. PHRASE 屏息静气（焦急或激动地等待）
    If you say that someone is holding their breath, you mean that they are waiting anxiously or excitedly for something to happen.
    1. The whole world holds its breath for this speech.
       整个世界都屏住呼吸等待这一讲话。
13. PHRASE 不指望（某事发生）
    If you say that you won't hold your breath, you mean that you do not expect something to happen even though someone has suggested that it might.
    1. 'Next thing you know, I'll be dancing at your wedding,' he cried. 'Don't hold your breath,' my father replied.
       “你瞧，下一件事是，我会在你的婚礼上跳舞，”他大声说。“你休想，”我父亲答道。
14. PHRASE 最后一口气
    When someone takes their last breath, they die.
    1. His wife sat with him until he drew his last breath.
       他的妻子坐在他跟前，直到他咽下最后一口气。
15. PHRASE 喘不过气；上气不接下气
    If you are out of breath, you are breathing very quickly and with difficulty because you have been doing something energetic.
    1. There she was, slightly out of breath from running.
       她在那儿，跑得有点儿喘不过气来。
16. PHRASE 但同时/但紧接着（尤用于谴责某人的言论自相矛盾）
    You can use in the same breath or in the next breath to indicate that someone says two very different or contradictory things, especially when you are criticizing them.
    1. He hailed this week's arms agreement but in the same breath expressed suspicion about the motivations of the United States.
       他为本周达成的武器协议而欢呼，但同时又对美国的动机表示怀疑。
17. PHRASE 呼吸短促；呼吸困难
    If you are short of breath, you find it difficult to breathe properly, for example because you are ill. You can also say that someone suffers from shortness of breath .
    1. She felt short of breath and flushed...
       她感到呼吸困难，脸颊绯红。
    2. Any exercise that causes undue shortness of breath should be stopped.
       任何导致呼吸出现困难的锻炼都应停止。
18. PHRASE （美或惊讶得）令（人）喘不过气来；使（人）惊叹
    If you say that something takes your breath away, you are emphasizing that it is extremely beautiful or surprising.
    1. I heard this song on the radio and it just took my breath away.
       我是从收音机里听到这首歌的，它令我惊叹不已。
19. PHRASE 压低嗓音；低声地
    If you say something under your breath, you say it in a very quiet voice, often because you do not want other people to hear what you are saying.
    1. Walsh muttered something under his breath.
       沃尔什小声嘟囔了一句。
20. PHRASE 白费唇舌
    If someone says you are wasting your breath, they mean that the person you are talking to will not take any notice and so there is no point saying anything to them.
    1. The tone of her voice told him he was wasting his breath.
       她的语气使他明白他是在白费口舌。
21. with bated breath → see: bated

Do not confuse breath and breathe.
不要混淆breath和breathe。

1. Her lips were close to his head and her breath tickled his ear
   她的嘴唇贴近他的头，她的呼吸让他耳朵发痒。
2. I could smell the whisky on his breath
   我能闻到他呼出的威士忌的味道。
3. Smoking causes bad breath.
   吸烟会导致口臭。
4. He took a deep breath, and began to climb the stairs
   他深吸了一口气，然后开始爬楼梯。
5. Gasping for breath, she leaned against the door
   她倚靠在门上，大口喘着气。
6. He spoke for one and a half hours and barely paused for breath.
   他几乎一口气没停地说了一个半小时。
7. Not even a breath of wind stirred the pine branches.
   一丝风也没有，松树枝条纹丝不动。
8. It was left to Martina to add a breath of common sense to the proceedings.
   这件事交由马丁娜处理，她会使整个过程显得更符合情理一些。
9. Her brisk treatment of an almost taboo subject was a breath of fresh air.
   她把这个近乎禁忌的话题处理得很轻松，令人耳目一新。
10. I reached out a hand to steady myself against the house while I got my breath back.
    我伸出一只手抵住墙壁撑着身子，让自己喘口气。
11. He had stopped to catch his breath and make sure of his directions.
    他曾停下来歇口气，同时确定一下方向。
12. Kenny caught his breath as Nikko nearly dropped the bottle.
    尼科差点儿把瓶子摔了，这让肯尼倒吸了一口气。
13. I held my breath and sank under the water.
    我屏住呼吸沉入水底。
14. The whole world holds its breath for this speech.
    整个世界都屏住呼吸等待这一讲话。
15. 'Next thing you know, I'll be dancing at your wedding,' he cried. 'Don't hold your breath,' my father replied.
    “你瞧，下一件事是，我会在你的婚礼上跳舞，”他大声说。“你休想，”我父亲答道。
16. His wife sat with him until he drew his last breath.
    他的妻子坐在他跟前，直到他咽下最后一口气。
17. There she was, slightly out of breath from running.
    她在那儿，跑得有点儿喘不过气来。
18. He hailed this week's arms agreement but in the same breath expressed suspicion about the motivations of the United States.
    他为本周达成的武器协议而欢呼，但同时又对美国的动机表示怀疑。
19. She felt short of breath and flushed
    她感到呼吸困难，脸颊绯红。
20. Any exercise that causes undue shortness of breath should be stopped.
    任何导致呼吸出现困难的锻炼都应停止。
21. I heard this song on the radio and it just took my breath away.
    我是从收音机里听到这首歌的，它令我惊叹不已。
22. Walsh muttered something under his breath.
    沃尔什小声嘟囔了一句。
23. The tone of her voice told him he was wasting his breath.
    她的语气使他明白他是在白费口舌。
24. I took a deep breath and went in.
    我深吸一口气，然后走了进去。
25. He paused, drawing a deep breath.
    他停了下来，深深地吸了口气。
26. His chest heaved, and he took a deep breath.
    他的胸脯上下起伏，然后他深深地吸了口气。
27. He took a long slow breath, inhaling deeply
    他缓缓地深吸了一口气。
28. Both animals and people were gasping for breath in the rarefied air.
    动物和人在稀薄的空气中都大口喘着气。
29. I took a deep breath of the fresh sea air.
    我深吸了一口海边的新鲜空气。
30. I gulped a breath of sweet air.
    我吸了一大口清新的空气。

n.

a breath of (fresh) air

• 新鲜空气；透气
  clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere
  1. We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
     我们午餐时出去透透气。

a breath of fresh air

• 令人耳目一新的人（或事物、地方）
  a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting

the breath of life to/for sb

• 某人的食粮
  an essential part of a person's existence

get your breath (again/back)

• 恢复正常呼吸
  to breathe normally again after running or doing some tiring exercise

hold your breath

• 闭气；屏气
  to stop breathing for a short time
  1. Hold your breath and count to ten.
     屏住呼吸，数到十。
• 屏息以待；焦虑地等待
  to be anxious while you are waiting for sth that you are worried about
  1. He held his breath while the results were read out.
     宣读结果时，他屏住了呼吸。
• 别眼巴巴等着；有你等的
  people say don't hold your breath! to emphasize that sth will take a long time or may not happen
  1. She said she'd do it this week, but don't hold your breath!
     她说她这个星期要干，不过你可别因此眼巴巴干等！

in the same breath

• 但紧接着，但同时（意味着与前一段意图或意思相反）
  immediately after saying sth that suggests the opposite intention or meaning
  1. He praised my work and in the same breath told me I would have to leave.
     他称赞了一番我的工作，但紧接着却对我说不得不辞退我。

his/her last/dying breath

• 最后一口气；临终；临死
  the last moment of a person's life

out of breath

• （运动后）喘不上气，透不过气来
  having difficulty breathing after exercise
  1. We were out of breath after only five minutes.
     我们五分钟后便气喘吁吁了。

say sth, speak, etc. under your breath

• 小声地，轻声地（说）
  to say sth quietly so that people cannot hear
  1. ‘Rubbish!’ he murmured under his breath.
     “胡说！”他悄悄地小声说。

take sb's breath away

• 令人惊叹；让人叹绝
  to be very surprising or beautiful
  1. My first view of the island from the air took my breath away.
     我第一次从空中看到这个岛时，叹赏不已。

with bated breath

• 焦虑；兴奋
  feeling very anxious or excited
  1. We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.
     我们屏住呼吸等待宣布冠军是谁。

catch your breath

catch your breath

draw breath

draw breath

save your breath

• 免费口舌
  used to tell sb that it is not worth wasting time and effort saying sth because it will not change anything
  1. Save your breath─you'll never persuade her.
     不用白费口舌了——你永远说服不了她。

waste your breath

• 白费唇舌
  to say sth that nobody takes any notice of

noun

1. the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
   1. he took a deep breath and dived into the pool
   2. he was fighting to his last breath

2. an indirect suggestion
   1. not a breath of scandal ever touched her

   Synonym:    hintintimation

3. a slight movement of the air
   1. there wasn't a breath of air in the room

4. the air that is inhaled and exhaled in respiration
   1. his sour breath offended her

5. a short respite

   Synonym:    breatherbreathing placebreathing spacebreathing spellbreathing time