exhale
UK: ɛksˈheɪl | US: ɛksˈheɪl
v. to breathe out air from the lungs
v. to emit or release (e.g., vapor, scent)
exhale = ex<out> + hale<breathe>
- ex (Latin origin, meaning "out")
- hale (from Latin halare, meaning "to breathe")
Etymology Origin:
The word "exhale" traces back to Latin exhalare, combining ex- (out) and halare (to breathe). It entered Middle English via Old French exhaler, retaining its core meaning of "breathing out." The morphemes logically reflect the action: ex- directs the breath outward, while -hale anchors the concept to respiration. This structure is mirrored in related words like "inhale" (breathe in) and "halitosis" (bad breath).
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
The flowers exhale a sweet fragrance in the morning.
Doctors ask patients to exhale fully during lung tests.
The volcano exhaled a plume of ash and smoke.
He exhaled in relief after hearing the good news.