Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

brea th|ing space (breathing spaces ) N‑VAR A breathing space is a short period of time between two activities in which you can recover from the first activity and prepare for the second one. □  Firms need a breathing space if they are to recover.

breath|less /bre θləs/

1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are breathless , you have difficulty in breathing properly, for example because you have been running or because you are afraid or excited. □  I was a little breathless and my heartbeat was bumpy and fast. ●  breath|less|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □  'I'll go in,' he said breathlessly. ●  breath|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □  Asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use breathless for emphasis when you are describing feelings of excitement or exciting situations. [EMPHASIS ] □  Technology has advanced at a breathless pace. □  …the breathless excitement of early 1988, when hundreds and thousands of citizens gathered nightly for political meetings. ●  breath|less|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □  Nancy waited breathlessly for him to go on.

breath|taking /bre θte I k I ŋ/ also breath-taking ADJ If you say that something is breathtaking , you are emphasizing that it is extremely beautiful or amazing. [EMPHASIS ] □  The house has breathtaking views from every room. □  Some of their football was breathtaking, a delight to watch. ●  breath|taking|ly ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV after v] □  …the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in Germany.

brea th test (breath tests ) N‑COUNT A breath test is a test carried out by police in which a driver blows into a special bag or electronic device to show how much alcohol he or she has drunk. □  Police will conduct random breath tests.

breathy /bre θi/ ADJ If someone has a breathy voice, you can hear their breath when they speak or sing. □  Her voice was suddenly breathy.

bred /bre d/

1Bred is the past tense and past participle of breed .

2 → see also ill-bred , pure-bred , well-bred

breech /briː tʃ/ (breeches /briː tʃ I z/) N‑COUNT The breech of a gun is the part of the barrel at the back into which you load the bullets.

breeches /br I tʃ I z/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Breeches are trousers which reach as far as your knees. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □  …riding breeches.

breed ◆◇◇ /briː d/ (breeds , breeding , bred )

1 N‑COUNT A breed of a pet animal or farm animal is a particular type of it. For example, terriers are a breed of dog. □ [+ of ] …rare breeds of cattle. □  Certain breeds are more dangerous than others.

2 VERB If you breed animals or plants, you keep them for the purpose of producing more animals or plants with particular qualities, in a controlled way. □ [V n] He lived alone, breeding horses and dogs. □ [be V -ed to-inf] These dogs are bred to fight. ●  breed|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ for ] There is potential for selective breeding for better yields.

3 → see also cross-breed

4 VERB When animals breed , they have babies. □ [V ] Frogs will usually breed in any convenient pond. □ [V -ing] The area now attracts over 60 species of breeding birds. ●  breed|ing N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] □  During the breeding season the birds come ashore.

5 VERB If you say that something breeds bad feeling or bad behaviour, you mean that it causes bad feeling or bad behaviour to develop. □ [V n] If they are unemployed it's bound to breed resentment. □ [V n] Violence breeds violence.