wheeze


1wheeze

verb \ˈhwēz, ˈwēz\
wheezedwheez·ing

Definition of WHEEZE

intransitive verb
1
: to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound
2
: to make a sound resembling that of wheezing <the bellows wheezed>

Examples of WHEEZE

  1. He was up all night hacking and wheezing.
  2. The car's motor wheezed and stalled.

Origin of WHEEZE

Middle English whesen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hvæsa to hiss; akin to Old English hwǣst action of blowing, Sanskrit śvasiti he blows, snorts
First Known Use: 15th century

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