breathe

1. (intransitive) To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.Synonyms: respireintransitive

2. (intransitive) To take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.Examples: "Fish have gills so they can breathe underwater."intransitive

3. (transitive) To inhale (a gas) to sustain life.Examples: "While life as we know it depends on oxygen, scientists have speculated that alien life forms might breathe chlorine or methane."transitive

4. (intransitive, figurative) To live.Examples: "I will not allow it, as long as I still breathe."; "I am in health, I breathe."; "Breathes there a man with soul so dead?"figurativelyintransitive

5. (transitive) To draw something into the lungs.Examples: "Try not to breathe too much smoke."transitive

6. (intransitive) To expel air from the lungs, exhale.Examples: "If you breathe on a mirror, it will fog up."intransitive