BREATHER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does breather mean? 

• BREATHER (noun)
  The noun BREATHER has 2 senses:

1. a short respite

2. air passage provided by a retractable device containing intake and exhaust pipes; permits a submarine to stay submerged for extended periods of time

  Familiarity information: BREATHER used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BREATHER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A short respite

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

breath; breather; breathing place; breathing space; breathing spell; breathing time

Hypernyms ("breather" is a kind of...):

relief; respite; rest; rest period (a pause for relaxation)

Derivation:

breathe (take a short break from one's activities in order to relax)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Air passage provided by a retractable device containing intake and exhaust pipes; permits a submarine to stay submerged for extended periods of time

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

breather; schnorchel; schnorkel; snorkel; snorkel breather

Hypernyms ("breather" is a kind of...):

air duct; air passage; airway (a duct that provides ventilation (as in mines))

Holonyms ("breather" is a part of...):

pigboat; sub; submarine; U-boat (a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes)

Derivation:

breathe (draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs)

 Context examples 

Now you’ll get a breather, and you will like that.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He was one of the best blades in Europe, but I was a little too supple in the wrist for him. ‘I thank God there was a button on your Highness’s foil,’ said he, when we had finished our breather.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It chanced on that very evening that Sir Nigel Loring, having supped before sunset, as was his custom, and having himself seen that Pommers and Cadsand, his two war-horses, with the thirteen hacks, the five jennets, my lady's three palfreys, and the great dapple-gray roussin, had all their needs supplied, had taken his dogs for an evening breather.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In 2020, Saturn will temporarily move into Aquarius from March 20 to July 1, 2020, so you will get a breather during that time, the first one you’ve seen since December 19, 2017.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)