respiration
rehs-pih-RAY-shuhn
Respiration (noun) means the act of breathing — taking air into the lungs and releasing it. Example: “The nurse monitored the patient's respiration throughout the night.”
noun
1
The act of breathing — taking air into the lungs and releasing it.
"The nurse monitored the patient's respiration throughout the night."
"Deep respiration can help calm the body during stress."
2
In biology, the process by which cells break down nutrients using oxygen to release energy, producing carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
"Cellular respiration converts glucose and oxygen into energy, water, and carbon dioxide."
How to use respiration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBreathing — or, in biology class, the chemical process cells use to get energy from food.
Common pairings
rate of respiration
cellular respiration
labored respiration
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Word forms
- Plural
- respirations
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The nurse monitored the patient's _____ throughout the night.
Etymology
From Latin respiratio, "a breathing," from respirare, "to breathe again."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for respiration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for respiration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “respiration” mean?
The word “respiration” means the act of breathing — taking air into the lungs and releasing it. In plain terms, breathing — or, in biology class, the chemical process cells use to get energy from food.
How do you pronounce “respiration”?
“Respiration” is pronounced rehs-pih-RAY-shuhn (/ɹɛspɪˈɹeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “respiration” in a sentence?
Here is “respiration” used in a sentence: “The nurse monitored the patient's respiration throughout the night.”
What part of speech is “respiration”?
“Respiration” is a noun.
Where does the word “respiration” come from?
The word “respiration” comes from Latin. From Latin respiratio, "a breathing," from respirare, "to breathe again.".
How many meanings does “respiration” have?
“Respiration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of breathing — taking air into the lungs and releasing it.
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