respiration

[res-puh-rey-shuh n] /ˌrɛs pəˈreɪ ʃən/
noun
1.
the act of respiring; inhalation and exhalation of air; breathing.
2.
Biology.
  1. the sum total of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by which oxygen is conveyed to tissues and cells, and the oxidation products, carbon dioxide and water, are given off.
  2. an analogous chemical process, as in muscle cells or in anaerobic bacteria, occurring in the absence of oxygen.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English respiracioun < Latin respīrātiōn- (stem of respīrātiō) a breathing out, equivalent to respīrāt(us) (past participle of respīrāre to respire) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
respirational, adjective
prerespiration, noun
Examples from the web for respiration
  • It is the normal by-product of human respiration and the burning of fossil fuels-probably the main culprit in global warming.
  • Oxygen drives the process of respiration, which provides our cells with energy.
  • The system monitors subtle changes in seven streams of real-time data, such as respiration, heart rate and blood pressure.
  • The receiver also contains sensors that monitor physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiration, and bodily movement.
  • Walking increases your respiration by a factor of two to three.
  • In such overdoses, respiration must be maintained by artificial means until the drugs are removed from the body.
  • Our one natural advantage in the wild was our ability to vent heat by perspiration, instead of respiration.
  • This type of respiration is also often seen after morphine administration.
British Dictionary definitions for respiration

respiration

/ˌrɛspəˈreɪʃən/
noun
1.
the process in living organisms of taking in oxygen from the surroundings and giving out carbon dioxide (external respiration). In terrestrial animals this is effected by breathing air
2.
the chemical breakdown of complex organic substances, such as carbohydrates and fats, that takes place in the cells and tissues of animals and plants, during which energy is released and carbon dioxide produced (internal respiration)
Word Origin and History for respiration
n.

late 14c., from Latin respirationem (nominative respiratio) "breathing, respiration," noun of action from past participle stem of respirare (see respire).

respiration in Medicine

respiration res·pi·ra·tion (rěs'pə-rā'shən)
n.
Abbr. R

  1. The act or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. Also called ventilation.

  2. The act or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a fish or plant, exchanges gases with its environment.

  3. The oxidative process occurring within living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules is released in a series of metabolic steps involving the consumption of oxygen and the liberation of carbon dioxide and water.

  4. Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which organisms, such as fungi, obtain energy from organic molecules.

respiration in Science
respiration
  (rěs'pə-rā'shən)   

  1. The process by which organisms exchange gases, especially oxygen and carbon dioxide, with the environment. In air-breathing vertebrates, respiration takes place in the lungs. In fish and many invertebrates, respiration takes place through the gills. Respiration in green plants occurs during photosynthesis.

  2. See cellular respiration.


respiration in Culture

respiration definition


The conversion of oxygen by living things into the energy by which they continue life. Respiration is part of metabolism.

Note: Carbon dioxide is a waste product of respiration.