wheeze

[ hweez, weez ]
/ ʰwiz, wiz /
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verb (used without object), wheezed, wheez·ing.

to breathe with difficulty and with a whistling sound: Asthma caused him to wheeze.
to make a sound resembling difficult breathing: The old locomotive wheezed into the station.

noun

a wheezing breath or sound.
an old and frequently used joke, saying, story, etc.

Origin of wheeze

1425–75; late Middle English whese (v.), probably < Old Norse hvæsa to hiss

OTHER WORDS FROM wheeze

wheez·er, noun wheez·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby wheeze

wheelspin, wheelwork, wheelwright, wheen, wheesh, wheeze, wheezy, whelk, whelked, whelm, whelp

Words related to wheeze

puff, gasp, cough, snore, hiss, rasp, pant, whisper, sibilate, whistle, murmur, buzz

Example sentences from the Web for wheeze

British Dictionary definitions for wheeze

wheeze
/ (wiːz) /

verb

to breathe or utter (something) with a rasping or whistling sound
(intr) to make or move with a noise suggestive of wheezy breathing

noun

a husky, rasping, or whistling sound or breathing
British slang a trick, idea, or plan (esp in the phrase good wheeze)
informal a hackneyed joke or anecdote

Derived forms of wheeze

wheezer, noun wheezy, adjective wheezily, adverb wheeziness, noun

Word Origin for wheeze

C15: probably from Old Norse hvǣsa to hiss

Medical definitions for wheeze

wheeze
[ wēz ]

v.

To breathe with difficulty, producing a hoarse whistling sound.

n.

A wheezing sound.