English Explanatory Dictionary

respire

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To breathe in and out successively.
  2. To recover one's breath or breathe easily following stress.
  3. To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide (as animals do), or vice versa (as plants do).
  4. To (inhale and) exhale; to breathe.
  5. To recover hope, courage, or strength after a time of difficulty.
noun
  1. Rest, respite.

Pronunciation

/ɹɪˈspʌɪə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-respire.wav /ɹɪˈspaɪɹ/

Word forms

respire respires respiring respired

Etymology

From Middle English respiren, borrowed from Old French respirer or Latin respīrō (“to blow back, breathe out”), from re- (“back”) + spīrō (“to breathe, blow”).

Synonyms

breathe draw breath inbreathe spire suspire

Related words

respiration respirability respirableness respirative

Derived words

nonrespiring photorespire respirable respiratory respiring respiro- respirocyte respirometer respirometry unrespired
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