breathable

English

Etymology

breathe +‎ -able

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

breathable (comparative more breathable, superlative most breathable)

1. (of air) suitable for breathing

   Antonym: unbreathable

   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel Station: Wards Codex entry:

     The Wards are open-topped, with skyscrapers rising from the superstructure. Towers are sealed against vacuum, as the breathable atmosphere envelope is only maintained to a height of about seven meters. The atmosphere is contained by the centrifugal force of rotation and a "membrane" of dense, colorless sulphur hexafluoride gas, held in place by carefully managed mass effect fields.

2. (of a fabric, etc.) Letting air seep through.

   breathable paint

Derived terms

• breathability
• breathableness
• nonbreathable
• ultrabreathable

 

Translations

suitable for breathing

• Belarusian: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: hengitettävä
• French: respirable (fr)
• Latin: spīrābilis