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

Related to WHEEZE

Synonyms: blow, heave, hyperventilate, pant, puff, gasp

Related Words: choke, gag, gulp, huff; asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle; snore, snuffle; exhale, expire

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Rhymes with WHEEZE

breeze, cheese, ease, feeze, freeze, frieze, jeez, lees, please, res, seize, sneeze, squeeze, tease, tweeze