[breath] n [ME breth, fr. OE braeth; akin to OHG bradam breath, and perh. to OE beorma yeast--more at barm] (bef. 12c) 1 a: air filled with a fragrance or odor b: a slight indication: suggestion "the faintest ~ of scandal"
2. a: the faculty of breathing "recovering his ~ after the race" b: an act of breathing "fought to the last ~" c: opportunity or time to breathe: respite
3: a slight breeze
4. a: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing "bad ~" b: something (as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing c: inhalation
5: a spoken sound: utterance
6: spirit, animation -- in one breath or in the same breath : almost simultaneously -- out of breath : breathing very rapidly (as from strenuous exercise)