English Explanatory Dictionary

perspire

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To emit (sweat or perspiration) through the skin's pores.
  2. To be evacuated or excreted, or to exude, through the pores of the skin.
  3. To cause (someone) to sweat.

Pronunciation

/pəˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ /pɚˈspaɪɹ/ /pɚˈspaɪɚ/ en-us-perspire.ogg /pəˈspɑɪə(ɹ)/

Word forms

perspire perspires perspiring perspired

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French perspirer and its source Latin perspīrō (“to breathe everywhere, blow constantly”), from per (“through”) + spīrō (“to breathe”); see spirit.

Synonyms

sweat

Related words

conspire inspire perspiration respire transpire

Derived words

perspirability perspirable perspiry
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