breeze

¹

[ breez ]

noun

1. a wind or current of air, especially a light or moderate one.
2. a wind of 4–31 miles per hour (2–14 meters per second).
3. Informal. an easy task; something done or carried on without difficulty:

   Finding people to join in the adventure was a breeze.

4. Chiefly British Informal. a disturbance or quarrel.

verb (used without object)

, breezed, breez·ing.

1. (of the wind) to blow a breeze (usually used impersonally with it as subject):

   It breezed from the west all day.

2. to move in a self-confident or jaunty manner:

   She breezed up to the police officer and asked for directions.

3. Informal. to proceed quickly and easily; move rapidly without intense effort (often followed by along, into, or through ):

   He breezed through the task.

   The car breezed along the highway.

verb (used with object)

, breezed, breez·ing.

1. to cause to move in an easy or effortless manner, especially at less than full speed:

   The boy breezed the horse around the track.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to win effortlessly:

      He breezed in with an election plurality of 200,000.

   2. Also breeze intoout. to move or act with a casual or careless attitude:

      He breezed out without paying attention to anyone.

2. Atlantic States. to become windy.

breeze

²

[ breez ]

noun

1. cinders, ash, or dust from coal, coke, or charcoal.
2. concrete, brick, or cinder block in which such materials form a component.

breeze

¹

/ briːz /

noun

1. a gentle or light wind
2. meteorol a wind of force two to six inclusive on the Beaufort scale
3. informal.
   an easy task or state of ease

   being happy here is a breeze

4. informal.
   a disturbance, esp a lively quarrel
5. shoot the breeze informal.
   to chat

verb

1. to move quickly or casually

   he breezed into the room

2. (of wind) to blow

   the south wind breezed over the fields

breeze

²

/ briːz /

noun

1. ashes of coal, coke, or charcoal used to make breeze blocks

breeze

³

/ briːz /

noun

1. an archaic or dialect name for the gadfly

Other Words From

• breezeless adjective
• breezelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breeze¹

First recorded in 1555–65; earlier brize, brise “north or northeast wind”; compare Dutch bries, East Frisian brîse, French brize, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan brisa, Italian brezza; further origin uncertain

Origin of breeze²

First recorded in 1720–30; variant of dialect brays, from French braise “live coals, cinders”; braze ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of breeze¹

C16: probably from Old Spanish briza northeast wind

Origin of breeze²

C18: from French braise live coals; see braise

Origin of breeze³

Old English briosa , of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. shoot / bat the breeze, Slang. to converse aimlessly; chat:

   We sat around most of the afternoon, just shooting the breeze.

More idioms and phrases containing breeze

In addition to the idiom beginning with breeze , also see hands down (in a breeze) ; shoot the breeze .

Synonym Study

See wind ¹.

Example Sentences

They lined the path as it curved to the right, swaying and rustling in the breeze, like an overeager welcoming committee.

From Los Angeles Times

Chinese tourists huddle together against the brisk autumn breeze on a 12-storey building, vying for the best spot to photograph the point where their country meets Russia and North Korea.

From BBC

When the memorial ended, there was a chant that swept through the stadium like a warm breeze up from the border.

From Los Angeles Times

Harbor Breeze Cruises will remain and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute’s wooden tall ships will dock at West Harbor.

From Los Angeles Times

More than just a family motto or team chant, the expression has ascended to iconic status for many players who work in the Chargers’ $250-million training facility, soak in the sun’s rays during a fall practice and cool off with the gentle South Bay breeze.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• air
• breath
• current
• gust
• whiff