<B>breast-beating, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a loud, and often emotional, public display of grief, regret, or misfortune. <BR> <I>Ex. While inquiry into faulty judgment and poor coordination is in order, there is no ground for excessive breast-beating over a "lost opportunity" at Paris (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> characterized by breast-beating. <BR> <I>Ex. breast-beating emotionalism.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="breastbone">
<B>breastbone, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the thin, flat bone in the front of the chest to which the ribs are attached by cartilages; sternum. </DL>
<A NAME="breastdrill">
<B>breast drill,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a portable drill having a plate against which the chest is pressed to provide pressure in drilling. </DL>
<A NAME="breasted">
<B>-breasted,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) having a ______breast. <BR> <I>Ex. Broad-breasted = having a broad breast.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="breastfed">
<B>breast-fed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (of infants) fed at the mother's breast. </DL>
<A NAME="breastfeed">
<B>breast-feed, </B>transitive verb, intransitive verb, <B>-fed,</B> <B>-feeding.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to feed at the mother's breast, rather than with a bottle; nurse. </DL>
<A NAME="breasthigh">
<B>breast-high, </B>adjective, adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD> as high as the chest. </DL>
<A NAME="breastpin">
<B>breastpin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an ornamental pin worn on the breast; brooch. </DL>
<A NAME="breastplate">
<B>breastplate, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1a. </B>a piece of armor worn over the chest. <BR> <I>Ex. Smote ... through breastplate and through breast (Macaulay).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>(Figurative:) <BR> <I>Ex. ... the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a strap or straps passing across the breast of a riding horse and attached to the saddle or girths, used only with certain horses or for some special situation. <DD><B> 3. </B>a gold-framed, square vestment of linen and colored thread set with twelve jewels, each betokening one of the tribes of Israel, worn anciently by the high priests of Israel (Exodus 28:15-30). <DD><B> 4. </B>the plate against which the chest is pressed in a breast drill. <DD><B> 5. </B><B>=plastron.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="breastplow">
<B>breastplow, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a kind of spade propelled by pressure of the breast on a crossbar, for cutting turf. </DL>
<A NAME="breastrail">
<B>breastrail, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the upper rail of a balcony or parapet. <DD><B> 2. </B>a railing in front of a ship's quarterdeck. </DL>
<A NAME="breaststroke">
<B>breaststroke, </B>noun. or <B>breast stroke,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a swimming stroke made by a swimmer face downwards with both arms, extended forward and together swept to the sides and back under water, while the legs make a frog kick. </DL>
<A NAME="breastsummer">
<B>breastsummer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a summer or beam placed horizontally over a large opening, such as a shop window, to support the superstructure. </DL>
<A NAME="breastwall">
<B>breast wall,</B> <B>=retaining wall.</B></DL>
<A NAME="breastwork">
<B>breastwork, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a low, sometimes hastily built wall for defense; parapet. </DL>
<A NAME="breath">
<B>breath, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the air drawn into and forced out of the lungs. <BR> <I>Ex. The drowning man gasped for a breath.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the act of breathing. <BR> <I>Ex. The injured man's breath was labored.</I> (SYN) respiration. <DD><B> 3. </B>the moisture from breathing. <BR> <I>Ex. You can see your breath on a very cold day.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>the ability to breathe easily. <BR> <I>Ex. Running fast made him lose his breath.</I> <DD><B> 5a. </B>a single drawing in and forcing out of air from the body. <BR> <I>Ex. I'll fight to the last breath (Harriet Beecher Stowe).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>the air drawn in. <BR> <I>Ex. Take a deep breath, and hold it.</I> <DD><B> c. </B>the time required for one breath; a moment. <BR> <I>Ex. Love that endures for a breath (Algernon Charles Swinburne).</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Figurative.) a slight movement in the air; light breeze. <BR> <I>Ex. Not a breath was stirring.</I> <DD><B> 7. </B>time to breathe freely; respite. <BR> <I>Ex. Give me some little breath, some pause, dear Lord (Shakespeare).</I> (SYN) rest, pause. <DD><B> 8. </B>(Figurative.) something said softly; whisper. <DD><B> 9. </B>(Figurative.) a slight trace or suggestion; hint. <BR> <I>Ex. the breath of suspicion. This administration has not been marred by one breath of scandal.</I> (SYN) stain, film, taint. <DD><B> 10. </B><B>=life.</B> (SYN) existence. <DD><B> 11. </B>(Phonetics.) forming a sound without motion of the vocal cords, producing such consonants as <I>h, s, f, p, t, k.</I> <DD><B> 12. </B>the fragrance given off, especially by flowers; odor; smell. <BR> <I>Ex. the breath of spring.</I> (SYN) scent. <DD><B> 13. </B>anything trivial or short-lived. <BR> <I>Ex. a dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy (Shakespeare).</I> <DD><B> 14. </B>(Obsolete.) vapor; steam; exhalation. <BR><I>expr. <B>catch one's breath,</B> <DD><B> a. </B>to gasp; pant. </I> <I>Ex. The dogs were catching their breath after the long chase.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to stop for breath; rest. <BR> <I>Ex. He took off a few minutes from the game to catch his breath.</I> <DD><B> c. </B>to hold one's breath suddenly in emotion. <BR> <I>Ex. When the little girl saw the new doll, she caught her breath for joy.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>hold one's breath,</B> </I>to check exhalation. <BR> <I>Ex. We all held our breath as we listened for the noise again.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>in the same breath,</B> <DD><B> a. </B>at the same time. </I> <I>Ex. She laughed and cried in the same breath.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>(Figurative.) in the same category or class. <BR> <I>Ex. Many critics consider it sacrilege to mention him [a bullfighter] in the same breath with Manolete, Belmonte, ... or Paco Camino (Time).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>out of breath,</B> </I>short of breath; breathless. <BR> <I>Ex. At the end of the race the winner was out of breath.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>save one's breath,</B> </I>to keep silent. <BR> <I>Ex. You might as well save your breath, since no one is listening to you.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>take</B> (or <B>gather</B>) <B>breath,</B> </I>to rest for a moment; pause to rest or reflect. <BR> <I>Ex. The exhausted workers sat down to take breath.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>take the breath</B> (<B>away</B>), </I>to make breathless with surprise or shock; dumfound; flabbergast. <BR> <I>Ex. But the growth since the war has taken the breath of even experts (Wall Street Journal).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>under</B> (or <B>below</B>) <B>one's breath,</B> </I>in a whisper. <BR> <I>Ex. She was talking under her breath so no one could hear.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="breathability">
<B>breathability, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the condition of being breathable. <DD><B> 2. </B>permeability; porosity. <BR> <I>Ex. A new micro-porous vinyl, claimed to have the breathability of ordinary fabrics ... (J. Frados).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="breathable">
<B>breathable, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>fit or agreeable to breathe or to be inhaled; respirable. <DD><B> 2. </B>permeable; porous. </DL>
<A NAME="breathalyzer">
<B>breathalyzer, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a device that measures the degree of intoxication of a person by analyzing his breath. Also, (British,) <B>breathalyser.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B><B>Breathalyzer.</B> a trademark for such a device. Also, (British,) <B>Breathalyser.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="breathe">
<B>breathe, </B>verb, <B>breathed,</B> <B>breathing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1a. </B>to draw air into the lungs and force it out; inhale and exhale; respire. <BR> <I>Ex. You can breathe through yourmouth if your nose is stuffy.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to take up oxygen and give out carbon dioxide, as fish do by means of gills. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to stop for breath; rest. <BR> <I>Ex. At last there is time to breathe.</I> (SYN) pause. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) to blow lightly or softly. <BR> <I>Ex. The air breathes upon us here most sweetly (Shakespeare).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Figurative.) to be alive; live. <BR> <I>Ex. As long as her big brother breathes, no one can hurt her. Breathes there the man with soul so dead (Scott).</I> (SYN) exist. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Figurative.) <DD><B> a. </B>to give forth breath or sound that can be heard; speak, sing, or the like. <DD><B> b. </B>to speak softly. <BR> <I>Ex. We could not even breathe in the baby's room.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Phonetics.) to make a sound with the breath and not with the voice. <DD><B> 7. </B>(Figurative.) to send out an odor or vapor; smell. <BR> <I>Ex. All Arabia breathes from yonder box (Alexander Pope).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1a. </B>to draw (air) into the lungs and force (it) out; inhale and exhale. <BR> <I>Ex. She wanted to get out of the stuffy room and breathe some fresh air.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to draw into the lungs; inhale. <BR> <I>Ex. They had been breathing poisonous fumes.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) to stop to rest after hard work or exercise. <BR> <I>Ex. At the top of the hill the rider breathed his horse.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to put out of breath; tire. <BR> <I>Ex. That pace will soon breathe you.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>(Figurative.) to say softly; whisper; utter. <BR> <I>Ex. Don't breathe a word of this to anyone.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>to send out from the lungs; exhale. <BR> <I>Ex. The dragon breathed fire from its nostrils.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Figurative.) to send out; give; impart. <BR> <I>Ex. Her enthusiasm breathed new life into our club.</I> (SYN) inspire, infuse, inject. <DD><B> 7. </B>(Figurative.) to be alive with; express. <BR> <I>Ex. passages which breathe the true spirit of poetry (Thomas Wright).</I> (SYN) manifest, exude. <DD><B> 8. </B>(Phonetics.) to utter with the breath and not with the voice. <DD><B> 9. </B>to give an airing to; exercise briskly. <BR> <I>Ex. He had breathed the Proctor's dogs (Tennyson).</I> <DD><B> 10. </B>to blow into, or cause to sound by the breath. <DD><B> 11. </B>to open and bleed (a vein). <BR><I>expr. <B>breathe again,</B> </I>to recover from anxiety or pain; be relieved. <BR> <I>Ex. Now I breathe again aloft the flood (Shakespeare).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>breathe easy</B> (or <B>easily</B>), </I>to feel relieved; be free of anxiety or pain. <BR> <I>Ex. Officials will breathe easier if the January orders also are up (Wall Street Journal).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>breathe freely,</B> </I>to be at ease; feel easy. <BR> <I>Ex. War was the element in which the Spartan seemed to have breathed most freely (Connop Thirlwall).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>breathe one's last.</B> </I>See under <B>last</B> (1). </DL>