respire
respire Lexical Profile
respire Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To breathe in and out; to inhale and exhale air, gas, or water.
"The patient continued to respire steadily with the help of the mechanical ventilator."
To undergo cellular respiration by absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide to generate metabolic energy (of a plant, cell, or organism).
"Even after being harvested, fresh fruits and vegetables continue to respire during storage."
To recover hope, courage, or strength after a period of exhaustion, distress, or toil (archaic or literary).
"After months of relentless labor, the weary townspeople were finally permitted to rest and respire."
• Rhymes for respire
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French respirer or directly from Latin respirare ('to breathe back, exhale, breathe repeatedly'), formed from re- ('again, back') and spirare ('to breathe').