breath soundn.
/ˈbrɛθ saʊnd/, U.S. /ˈbrɛθ ˌsaʊnd/ 1. Phonetics. A sound produced without vibration of the vocal cords, as when forming the voiceless consonants /k/, /t/, /p/, /x/, /ʃ/, /s/, /θ/, and /f/. Cf. voice sound at voice n. Compounds 1a(b). Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1819 B. H. Smart Theory Elocution i. 44 Such principles as:..the power of letter e to restore s to its breath sound when coming after a liquid: thus we say, pulse, sense, [etc.].
1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 429/2 It will be observed..that these consonants have no voice throughout their duration; that they each have breath-sound.
1978 Jrnl. Internat. Phonetic Assoc. 8 8 All examples of breath sounds, whether consonantal or vocalic, are clear as well as voiceless.
2. Medicine. A sound made by the movement of air in the respiratory tract, heard during auscultation of the chest.
ΚΠ
1840 C. J. B. Williams Pathol. & Diagnosis Dis. of Chest (ed. 4) i. i. 21 Inasmuch as this passage of air is the great object of respiration, we might expect to find in these breath-sounds, signs of the manner in which this object is accomplished.
1890 F. Taylor Man. Pract. Med. 341 Breath-sounds which deserve the name of cavernous are often heard over solid lung.
2015 K. E. Bloch et al. Self-assessment in Respiratory Med. (ed. 2) 447 Percussion reveals dullness of the right lower chest; auscultation reveals diminished breath sounds over the area of dullness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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