English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

respirations plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “respiration” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The nurse monitored the patient's _____ throughout the night.

Etymology

From Latin respiratio, "a breathing," from respirare, "to breathe again."

Origin: Latin

breathing ventilation internal respiration cellular respiration external respiration

Related words

Rhymes for respiration

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.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial