Library / English Dictionary

SIGH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An utterance made by exhaling audibly

Synonyms:

sigh; suspiration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("sigh" is a kind of...):

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

Derivation:

sigh (heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily)

sigh (utter with a sigh)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sound like a person sighing

Example:

she heard the sigh of the wind in the trees

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("sigh" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

sigh (heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily)

sigh (utter with a sigh)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

Example:

She sighed sadly

Synonyms:

sigh; suspire

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "sigh" is one way to...):

breathe; respire; suspire; take a breath (draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

sigh (an utterance made by exhaling audibly)

sigh (a sound like a person sighing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Utter with a sigh

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "sigh" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

sigh (an utterance made by exhaling audibly)

sigh (a sound like a person sighing)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“Dear me, dear me—the postoffice again!” Holmes sighed, wearily.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“No,” said Miss Tilney, sighing; “I was unfortunately from home. Her illness was sudden and short; and, before I arrived it was all over.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“Oh, certainly, certainly,” answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of relief.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Ay, true enough," (with a deep sigh) "only June."

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She sighed for the air, the liberty, the quiet of the country; and fancied that if any place could give her ease, Barton must do it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Von Bork sighed as one who had suffered much.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My uncle gave a sigh of relief.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“A great many indeed,” said her companion with a sigh.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“Have I not noted your frequent sighs and vacant eye? Is she fair?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Inactivating released ATP reduced resting breathing rates and the frequency of sighs under normal and low oxygen levels.

(Star-like cells may help the brain tune breathing rhythms, National Institutes of Health)