frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

arbitrators blamed a breakdown of communication between union
and management. 2 (mental) collapse, nervous breakdown, Colloq
crack-up: She had a bad breakdown after her daughter was
killed. 3 analysis, run-down, detailing, review; decomposition,
itemization, classification, dissection, distillation,
fractionation: I want a breakdown of these figures by noon. The
chemical breakdown of the substance indicated the presence of
arsenic.
breakneck adj. reckless, dangerous, daredevil; excessive, careless,
headlong, rash, Colloq hell for leather: The car came round the
corner at breakneck speed on two wheels.
breast n. 1 chest, bosom, bust; teat, Technical mamma, Slang boob,
knocker, tit, titty: He clasped the child to his breast. On
some beaches in Europe, women bare their breasts when
sunbathing. 2 soul, core, heart, heart of hearts: I feel in my
breast it is the right thing to do.
breath n. 1 gust, zephyr, breeze, puff, whiff, stirring, stir: There
wasn't a breath of air in the tent. 2 hint, suggestion,
indication, touch, murmur, whisper, soup‡on: She never allowed
the breath of scandal to affect her behaviour. 3 take one's
breath away. astound, astonish, surprise, amaze, dazzle,
startle, shock, stagger: The sheer beauty of the waterfall
takes your breath away.
breathe v. 1 live, exist: She believes that there never breathed a
wiser man than her father. 2 inhale and exhale, respire,
suspire: He was breathing regularly. 3 exhale, expel, puff,
blow: The banner depicts a dragon breathing fire. 4 whisper,
murmur, hint (at), suggest, tell, speak, say: She told me not
to breathe a word of it to anybody.
breathless
adj. 1 panting, out of breath, winded, gasping, exhausted,
spent, worn out, tired out, Colloq Brit puffed: We were
breathless after carrying the piano up two flights of stairs. 2
surprised, amazed, astonished, astounded, awestruck, staggered:
The news of Penny's having given birth to twins left me
breathless. 3 eager, agog, feverish, in suspense: We were all
breathless with anticipation as the compŠre opened the envelope.