Respire Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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respire

[rɪˈspaɪər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

breathing

To respire means to inhale and exhale air; to breathe.

Synonyms

breathe, exhale, inhale.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
respire	Technical or medical contexts. Usually used when discussing respiration in a scientific manner. Cells respire to convert nutrients into energy. The doctor checked if the patient could respire normally.
breathe	Everyday language, used to describe the regular process of taking air into and releasing it from the lungs. It's important to breathe deeply when you're stressed. She was so scared that she almost forgot to breathe.
inhale	Refers specifically to the act of breathing in air. Similar to 'exhale,' it is often used in instructions or mindfulness. She closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh mountain air. Inhale deeply through your nose and then exhale through your mouth.
exhale	Refers specifically to the act of breathing out air. Often used in mindfulness practices or instructions. Take a deep breath, hold it for a moment, and then slowly exhale. The cold air formed a small cloud as he exhaled.

Examples of usage

I love taking a walk in the forest and feeling the fresh air as I respire.
Yoga teaches you to be mindful of how you respire during different poses.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

biology

In biology, to respire means to undergo the process of respiration, where organisms exchange gases to produce energy.

Synonyms

breathe, respirate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
respire	Duplicate entry, context and examples same as above. Duplicate entry
respirate	Technical or clinical context, used particularly in medical settings to describe mechanically assisted breathing. The patient required a machine to help him respirate after the surgery
breathe	Common, everyday use, referring to the act of taking air into the lungs and releasing it. She had to stop and breathe deeply to calm down

Word

Description / Examples

respire

Duplicate entry, context and examples same as above.

Duplicate entry

respirate

Technical or clinical context, used particularly in medical settings to describe mechanically assisted breathing.

The patient required a machine to help him respirate after the surgery

breathe

Common, everyday use, referring to the act of taking air into the lungs and releasing it.

She had to stop and breathe deeply to calm down

Examples of usage

Plants respire by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
Animals respire by inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

Translations

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

Origin of 'respire'

The word 'respire' comes from the Latin word 'respirare', which means 'to breathe again'. The term has been used in English since the 15th century to describe the act of breathing. Over time, 'respire' has also been adopted in biology to refer to the process of respiration in living organisms, highlighting the importance of breathing for life itself.