to inhale and exhale air for the purpose of maintaining life; breathe.
2.
to breathe freely again, after anxiety, trouble, etc.
verb (used with object), respired, respiring.
3.
to breathe; inhale and exhale.
4.
to exhale.
Origin
1375-1425;late Middle Englishrespiren < Latinrespīrāre, equivalent to re-re- + spīrāre to breathe; see spirit
Related forms
prerespire, verb (used with object), prerespired, prerespiring.
unrespired, adjective
Examples from the web for respire
The trait in amphibians is likely an adaptation to life between water and land and their ability to respire through the skin.
We were told that animals perspire and respire and plants transpire.
As the fish respire, their gills excrete ammonia into the water.
Microbial agents are used to naturally respire the selenium compounds selenate and selenite.
After collection, samples continue to respire and to be subject to microbial decay.
As the water in the honey evaporates and the bees respire, the hive becomes humid and warm.
As temperatures rise, plants begin to respire and can quickly deplete their energy reserves.
They are heterotrophs that normally respire by aerobic means.
British Dictionary definitions for respire
respire
/rɪˈspaɪə/
verb
1.
to inhale and exhale (air); breathe
2.
(intransitive) to undergo the process of respiration
3.
(literary) to breathe again in a relaxed or easy manner, as after stress or exertion
Word Origin
C14: from Latin rēspīrāre to exhale, from re- + spīrāre to breathe; see spirit1
Word Origin and History for respire
v.
late 14c., from Old French respirer (12c.), from Latin respirare "breathe again, breathe in and out," from re- "again" (see re-) + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit (n.)). Related: Respired; respiring.