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Breathe vs Gasp - What's the difference?

breathe | gasp |

In intransitive terms the difference between breathe and gasp

is that breathe is to exchange gases with the environment while gasp is to breathe laboriously or convulsively.

In transitive terms the difference between breathe and gasp

is that breathe is to stop, to give a horse an opportunity to catch its breath while gasp is to speak in a breathless manner.

As a noun gasp is

a short, sudden intake of breath.

As an interjection gasp is

The sound of a gasp.

breathe

English

Verb

  • To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
  • To take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.
  • :Fish have gills so they can breathe underwater.
  • To use (a gas) to sustain life.
  • :While life as we know it depends on oxygen, scientists have speculated that alien life forms might breathe chlorine or methane.
  • Figuratively, to live.
  • :I will not allow it, as long as I still breathe .
  • *(rfdate) Shakespeare
  • *:I am in health, I breathe .
  • *(rfdate) Sir Walter Scott
  • *:Breathes there a man with soul so dead?
  • To draw something into the lungs.
  • :Try not to breathe too much smoke.
  • To expel air from the lungs, exhale.
  • :If you breathe on a mirror, it will fog up.
  • To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to emanate; to blow gently.
  • :The wind breathes through the trees.
  • *(rfdate) Shakespeare
  • *:The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
  • *(rfdate) Byron
  • *:There breathes a living fragrance from the shore.
  • To give an impression of, to exude.
  • :The decor positively breathes classical elegance.
  • To whisper quietly.
  • :He breathed the words into her ear, but she understood them all.
  • To exchange gases with the environment.
  • :Garments made of certain new materials breathe well and keep the skin relatively dry during exercise.
  • To rest; to stop and catch one's breath.
  • *:
  • *:Thenne they lasshed to gyder many sad strokes / & tracyd and trauercyd now bakward / now sydelyng hurtlyng to gyders lyke two bores / & that same tyme they felle both grouelyng to the erthe / Thus they fought styll withoute ony reposynge two houres and neuer brethed
  • *(rfdate) Shakespeare
  • *:Well! breathe awhile, and then to it again!
  • To stop, to give (a horse) an opportunity to catch its breath.
  • :At higher altitudes you need to breathe your horse more often.
  • Synonyms

    * (to draw air in and out) see

    Derived terms

    * *

    gasp

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A short, sudden intake of breath.
  • The audience gave a gasp of astonishment
  • (British, slang): A draw or drag on a cigarette (or gasper).
  • I'm popping out for a gasp .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
  • The audience gasped as the magician disappeared.
  • To breathe laboriously or convulsively.
  • We were all gasping when we reached the summit.
  • * Lloyd
  • She gasps and struggles hard for life.
  • To speak in a breathless manner.
  • The old man gasped his last few words.
  • To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.
  • I'm gasping for a cup of tea.
  • * Spenser
  • Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (humorous)
  • Gasp ! What will happen next?

    References

    Anagrams

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