Respire

Quick meaning: Respire is a verb meaning (intransitive) To breathe in and out successively.

Meaning

(intransitive) To breathe in and out successively.

More Meanings

1. (cytology, intransitive) To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide (as animals do), or vice versa (as plants do).
2. (transitive) To (inhale and) exhale; to breathe.
3. (archaic, intransitive) To recover hope, courage, or strength after a time of difficulty.
4. (obsolete) Rest, respite.

Example Sentences

All living things respire or breathe. To many of us this means that they take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

He cast to suffer him no more respire, But gan his sturdie sterne about to weld, And him so strongly stroke, that to the ground him feld.

They were the last moments he might ever respire near her, who was then doubtless wrapt in peaceful sleep, whilst he wandered distracted without.

It is my opinion, that these animals, while they continue in the state of larvae, respire water and not air; and that they inspire the water, not by the mask, but by their posterior part, through which also they discharge it.

Word Forms

• respires
• respiring
• respired

Synonyms for respire

Depending on context, synonyms include breathe, inbreathe, spire, suspire.

Antonyms for respire

Common opposites include unable.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include breathe, inhale, inbreathe, imbreathe, respirate, inspire.

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