Definition of breath for Students. 1  1 : ability to breathe : ease of breathing I lost my breath for a moment. 2  2 : air taken in or sent out by the lungs Hold your breath. 3  3 : a slight breeze a breath of wind.
Definition of 'raise the stakes'. raise the stakes. a. to increase the amount of money or valuables hazarded in a gambling game. b. to increase the costs, risks, or considerations involved in taking an action or reaching a conclusion. the Libyan allegations raised the stakes in the propaganda war between Libya and the United States. stake.
verb. 1  To take care of and educate (a child): bring up, raise. See care for. 2  To raise upright: erect, pitch, put up, raise, set up, upraise, uprear. See horizontal, rise. 3  To move (something) to a higher position: boost, elevate, heave, hoist, lift, pick up, raise, take up, uphold, uplift, upraise, uprear. See rise.