breath /breθ/ n.［c］&［u］1. 呼吸，气息：take a deep breath 深吸一口气；take breath (努力之后)喘口气，休息一下 ；lose one’s breath 喘不过气来 2. 用于习语 catch/hold one’s breath 屏息，憋住气；歇口气，缓口气: They held their breath in excitement.他们紧张得屏住呼吸。After running to the bus stop, we sat down to catch a breath. 跑到车站我们坐下来喘口气。out of breath 上气不接下气：Reaching the top of the tower, he was out of breath.到了塔顶，他上气不接下气。take one’s breath away 使惊喜：The beauty of the scenery took my breath away.秀丽的风景使我感到十分惊讶。under one’s breath小声地：He muttered something under his breath.她小声咕哝，不让别人听见。
breathe /bri:ð/ vi.&vt. 呼吸：He was breathing hard when he finished the race.当他跑完赛跑时，他费力地喘着气。When we breathe, we draw air into our lungs.我们呼吸时，就将空气吸入肺部。 He became ill after breathing coal dust for many years. 多年吸入煤尘后,他病倒了。
