respire

Meaning

Verb

1. To breathe in and out successively.
2. To breathe in and out successively.
3. To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation.
4. To (inhale and) exhale; to breathe.
5. To recover hope, courage, or strength after a time of difficulty.

Noun

Rest, respite.

Synonyms

breathe

inhale

suspire

take a breath

exhale

draw breath

inhale air

breathe out

rest

take breath

break

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈspʌɪə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: respiren

In summary

From Middle English respiren, borrowed from Old French respirer or Latin respīrō (“to blow back, breathe out”), from re- (“back”) + spīrō (“to breathe, blow”).