draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
"I can breathe better when the air is clean"
"The patient is respiring"
allow the passage of air through
"Our new synthetic fabric breathes and is perfect for summer wear"
take a short break from one's activities in order to relax
"After hours of intense coding, she stepped outside into the garden just to breathe and clear her mind."
reach full flavor by absorbing air and being let to stand after having been uncorked
"This rare Bordeaux must be allowed to breathe for at least 2 hours"
To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
"After running up the hill, she stopped to breathe deeply so her body could get enough fresh oxygen back into her bloodstream."
In plain English: To breathe means to take air into your lungs and push it back out so you can keep living.
"I stopped to take a deep breath before running up the hill."
Usage: Use breathe as an action verb when describing the physical process of inhaling or exhaling, such as taking a deep breath before speaking. Do not confuse it with "breath," which is strictly used only for the noun referring to air itself or vapor from one's mouth and nose.
The word "breathe" comes from the Middle English verb brethen, which meant to exhale or produce an odor. It is ultimately derived from the Middle English noun breth (meaning "breath") and shares roots with Old English and Old Norse words for breathing.