Respiratory Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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respiratory

[หˆrษ›spษ™rษ™tษ”หri ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

medical term

Relating to or affecting the process of breathing or the organs involved in breathing.

Synonyms

breathing, lung-related, pulmonary.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
respiratory

Used in a medical or scientific context when talking about the system in the body responsible for breathing or conditions affecting it.

  • The doctor is a specialist in respiratory illnesses.
  • They conducted a study on respiratory health.
breathing

Refers to the physical act of inhaling and exhaling air, often used in everyday situations or in discussions about immediate health and well-being.

  • She practiced deep breathing to calm her nerves.
  • His breathing became shallow after running the marathon.
lung-related

Specifically refers to conditions, treatments, or discussions directly associated with the lungs. This term is more descriptive and typically used in both medical settings and everyday language when clarity about the lungs is needed.

  • The research focuses on lung-related diseases.
  • Smoking can cause many lung-related issues.
pulmonary

A formal medical term used to describe anything related to the lungs, often found in medical documents, diagnoses, and professional health care discussions.

  • She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.
  • The surgery was needed to address a pulmonary embolism.

Examples of usage

  • The patient was diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
  • He had difficulty breathing due to a respiratory condition.
  • She works in the field of respiratory medicine.
Context #2 | Noun

medical field

A medical professional who specializes in the treatment of respiratory disorders.

Synonyms

lung specialist, respiratory therapist.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
respiratory

This word is often used in medical or scientific settings to refer to anything related to breathing or the lungs.

  • She has a respiratory infection that needs treatment.
  • The respiratory system includes the lungs and airways.
respiratory therapist

This term is used for a health professional who provides care to patients with breathing or lung problems. It is specific to a healthcare role and is typically used in clinical or hospital settings.

  • The respiratory therapist helped her with her breathing exercises.
  • Respiratory therapists often work in intensive care units.
lung specialist

This term refers specifically to a doctor who has expertise in diagnosing and treating lung conditions. It's typically used when talking about medical professionals.

  • He went to see a lung specialist for his chronic cough.
  • Lung specialists are trained to handle severe respiratory diseases.

Examples of usage

  • The respiratory was called in to assist with the patient's breathing.
  • She decided to become a respiratory to help people with lung diseases.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • Humans have an intricate network of over 150 million tiny air sacs in their lungs called alveoli, which are crucial for gas exchange.
  • Respiratory health is often measured using lung capacity tests, which assess how much air a person can inhale and exhale.
  • The respiratory system works alongside the circulatory system to deliver oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide.

Health

  • Respiratory diseases, like asthma and COPD, affect millions of people, showcasing the importance of maintaining lung health.
  • Healthy habits, such as not smoking and exercising regularly, contribute significantly to respiratory health and overall well-being.

Pop Culture

  • Several popular songs highlight themes of breathing and the importance of air, metaphorically speaking about life's challenges and respiring through them.
  • Movies often depict dramatic scenes where characters struggle for breath, emphasizing the respiratory system's critical role in survival.

Literature

  • Literary works often use the respiratory system as a symbol for life and vitality, illustrating emotion through the imagery of breath.
  • Poets frequently explore themes of breath as a metaphor for life's fleeting moments, capturing how vital it is to our existence.

Origin of 'respiratory'

Main points about word origin

  • The word originates from the Latin 'respirare', meaning 'to breathe again'.
  • It was first used in the English language in the late 14th century to describe anything related to breathing.

The word 'respiratory' originates from the Latin word 'respirare', which means 'to breathe'. The term has been used in the medical field to describe anything related to the process of breathing or the organs involved in breathing. The study of respiratory system and related diseases has been crucial in medical science for centuries.


See also: respirate, respirator.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,707, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.