verb
respire
Respire (verb) means to draw breath in and let it out again, over and over.
verb
1
To draw breath in and let it out again, over and over.
2
To get your breath back, or to breathe more easily, after exertion.
3
To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide (as animals do), or vice versa (as plants do).
"All living things respire or breathe. To many of us this means that they take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide."
— H. Webb, M. A. Grigg (1964)
4
To draw air into the lungs and let it out; to breathe.
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Etymology
It comes from Middle English respiren, borrowed from Old French respirer or from Latin respīrō (“to blow back, breathe out”), from re- (“back”) and spīrō (“to breathe, blow”).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for respire
See all rhymes for respire →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of respire?
"respire" (verb) means to draw breath in and let it out again, over and over.
What is another word for respire?
Other words for "respire" include breathe, suspire.
What are the different meanings of respire?
"respire" has 3 main meanings: 1. To draw breath in and let it out again, over and over; 2. To get your breath back, or to breathe more easily, after exertion; 3. To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide (as animals do), or vice versa (as plants do).
