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😮‍💨 A short rest 🛠️ Air intake device
breather

breather

5 9.6
A device with pipes that lets a submarine take in air while staying underwater
  • noun
  • /ˈbriːðər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esnórquel
  • During the simulation, the divers used a breather to ensure they had enough air for their underwater tasks.
  • air-breather
  • oxygen breather
  • breather mask

Examples

  • The technician replaced the faulty breather to improve the submarine's air intake system.

  • There's a breather on line four, I think it's for you.

    FM (1978)

  • I got that breather hose off the accessory housing.

    Madison (2005)

  • Here, crewmen might plug in their breather tubes or charge their own walk around oxygen tanks.

  • Water can enter a system through seals, breathers, hatches, and fill caps.

    Blog text (22)

  • I wiped the sweat off my dirty forehead, careful not to dislodge the uncomfortable breather mask.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The submarine's breather allows it to take in fresh air while remaining completely submerged.

Synonyms

snorkel
vsbreather
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A pipe that lets a submarine take in air while staying near the surface

is the broader device description not limited to engine use
snorkel breather
vsbreather
  • Specialized
9.5

A pipe pulled out to let a submarine get air while underwater

is a general description that does not stress retractability
schnorchel
vsbreather
  • UK
9.9

A tube that lets a submarine take air from the surface while under water

is described generally and does not mention surface air source
schnorkel
vsbreather
  • UK
9.9

A device with pipes that lets a submarine take air while just below the water

is the general device description and does not state surface intake explicitly

Compounds

fire-breather
3 8.5

A performer who blows fuel from the mouth to make a flame

mouth breather
  • Offensive
2 9.3

A person who seems not very smart or lacks social skills

quick breather
  • Informal
1 3.0

A short break to breathe and rest

fire-breather
  • Offensive
8.0

A person who says things that make people angry or afraid

snorkel breather
  • Specialized
9.5

A pipe pulled out to let a submarine get air while underwater

Surface Forms

breather singular
breathers plural

Morphology

breather = breathe (opaque) = breathe + er

The meaning of a device for submarines is not directly derivable from 'breathe' + 'er'.

Etymology

The word breather in the submarine sense comes from breath 'air you take' and the ending -er 'thing that'. So a breather is a pipe or device that lets fresh air in and out, letting the crew 'take a breath' while the submarine stays underwater.