- 1[countable] a light wind a sea breeze The flowers were gently swaying in the breeze. A light breeze was blowing. Wordfinderwindbreeze, buffet, calm, force, gale, gust, hurricane, prevailing, tornado, wind CollocationsThe weatherGood weather be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine the sun shines/warms something/beats down (on something) the sunshine breaks/streams through something fluffy/wispy clouds drift across the sky a gentle/light/stiff/cool/warm/sea breeze blows in/comes in off the sea the snow crunches beneath/under somebody’s feet/bootsBad weather thick/dark/storm clouds form/gather/roll in/cover the sky/block out the sun the sky darkens/turns black a fine mist hangs in the air a dense/heavy/thick fog rolls in the rain falls/comes down (in buckets/sheets)/pours down snow falls/comes down/covers something the wind blows/whistles/howls/picks up/whips through something/sweeps across something strong/gale-force winds blow/gust (up to 80 mph) a storm is approaching/is moving inland/hits/strikes/rages thunder rolls/rumbles/sounds (forked/sheet) lightning strikes/hits/flashes a (blinding/snow) blizzard hits/strikes/blows/rages a tornado touches down/hits/strikes/destroys something/rips through something forecast/expect/predict rain/snow/a category-four hurricane (North American English) pour (down)/ (British English) pour (down) with rain get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm hear rolling/distant thunder be battered/buffeted by strong winds (British English) be blowing a gale battle against/brave the elementsThe weather improves the sun breaks through the clouds the sky clears/brightens (up)/lightens (up) the clouds part/clear the rain stops/lets up/holds off the wind dies down the storm passes the mist/fog lifts/clears Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefaint, gentle, light, … breeze + verbblow, come, drift, … verb + breezefeel prepositionin a/the breeze See full entry See related entries: Wind
- 2[singular] (informal) a thing that is easy to do It was a breeze. Going down the hill would be a breeze after the long climb up! Word Originmid 16th cent.: probably from Old Spanish and Portuguese briza ‘NE wind’ (the original sense in English).Extra examples A light breeze came off the sea. A sudden breeze rustled the long dry grass. I felt the breeze on my face. The cool breeze swept through the trees. The curtains fluttered in the night breeze. pleasant sea breezes The flowers were gently swaying in the breeze. The pools are cooled by the sea breezes.Idioms
(North American English, informal) to have a conversation in an informal way synonym chat We sat around in the bar, shooting the breeze.
Check pronunciation: breeze
