breathy

[ breth-ee ]
/ ˈbrɛθ i /

adjective, breath·i·er, breath·i·est.

(of the voice) characterized by audible or excessive emission of breath.

Origin of breathy

First recorded in 1520–30; breath + -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM breathy

breath·i·ness, noun

Words nearby breathy

breathing bag, breathing reserve, breathing space, breathless, breathtaking, breathy, breccia, brecciate, brecht, breckinridge, brecknockshire

Example sentences from the Web for breathiness

  • This soon becomes very comfortable, relieves the throat of strain, relieves the tones of breathiness or all idea of forcing.

    Great Singers on the Art of Singing |James Francis Cooke

  • At first they may be quite breathy, but as the vocal bands become accustomed to the new action, the breathiness will disappear.

    The Child-Voice in Singing |Francis E. Howard

  • The color rose high in the Girl's cheeks, and her voice took on the thrill and breathiness of amused excitement.

    The Sick-a-Bed Lady |Eleanor Hallowell Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for breathiness

breathy
/ (ˈbrɛθɪ) /

adjective breathier or breathiest

(of the speaking voice) accompanied by an audible emission of breath
(of the singing voice) lacking resonance

Derived forms of breathy

breathily, adverb breathiness, noun