Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
gentle breeze

gentle breeze

4 2.2
A light wind that moves leaves and cools the air
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : brisa suave
  • You could almost picture a gentle breeze wafting through the room.
  • gentle breeze blows
  • gentle breeze stirred
  • gentle breeze ruffles

Examples

  • As Downer lay on top of his sleeping bag, he enjoyed the gentle breeze of the open window.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The green grass danced in the gentle breeze, and Nasbah could see her grandparents' hogan and the sheep corral near the wash.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • There was a gentle breeze.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • A gentle breeze from heaven.

    Nosferatu (2024)

  • A gentle breeze from the north brings a faint smell of the marsh.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • As he came out into the sunlight, a gentle breeze brushed his face.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • A gentle breeze stirred across the field, lifting the curtain of smoke.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The gentle breeze from the air recycler washed over his back with cool, delicate fingers.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • A gentle breeze tousles his hair as he gazes up at the stars.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • As he came out into the sunlight, a gentle breeze brushed his face.

Synonyms

wind
vsgentle breeze
∞ 1.0

Moving air that blows outside and can be strong

is a narrow category limited to a gentle 8 to 12 knot range
breeze
vsgentle breeze
201 1.0

A light cool wind that feels pleasant

is a specific stronger air movement at 8 to 12 knots
light breeze
vsgentle breeze
3 1.5

A gentle wind you feel on your face that moves leaves

is stronger, defined at 8 to 12 knots rather than 4 to 7
brise
vsgentle breeze
  • Archaic
8.2

A gentle wind that cools the air

is identical in sense but defined by an exact 8 to 12 knot speed

Antonyms

storm
∞ 1.0

A violent weather event with heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning

strong wind
23 1.0

A wind that blows very hard and can move things

How Windy

gale
24 5.8
strong breeze
  • Specialized
1 2.2
moderate breeze
  • Specialized
2.9
gentle breeze
  • Specialized
4 2.2
light breeze
3 1.5
calm
52 1.0

Surface Forms

gentle breeze singular
gentle breezes plural

Morphology

gentle + breeze

The meaning 'a mild or light wind' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'gentle' (mild) with 'breeze' (a light wind). This simple adjective+noun compositional pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the expression (the technical Beaufort scale detail is specialized but not required for general comprehension).

Etymology

Gentle breeze paints a clear picture: a soft wind that moves leaves and hair without pushing hard. Here gentle means soft and breeze means 'light wind', so the phrase now describes a pleasant, light wind that cools you without being strong.