Definition

1. Verb:
   • To breathe; to inhale and exhale air: The basic biological process of taking air into the lungs and expelling it.
   • To undergo the biochemical and metabolic processes of respiration: Specifically, the cellular process of taking in oxygen and producing carbon dioxide as part of energy production.
   • To breathe freely again; to recover one's breath or composure: Used figuratively to indicate relief or relaxation after stress, exertion, or anxiety.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • All animals respire to stay alive. (All animals breathe to stay alive.)
  • The doctor monitored how the patient respired after the surgery. (The doctor monitored how the patient breathed after the surgery.)
  • After finishing the marathon, he needed a moment to respire. (After finishing the marathon, he needed a moment to catch his breath.)
  • Plants respire at night, taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. (Plants respire at night, taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.)

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Biological Context: In scientific writing, "respire" precisely describes the gas exchange and metabolic processes in organisms.
  • The study examines how deep-sea creatures respire under extreme pressure. (The study examines how deep-sea creatures respire under extreme pressure.)
• Figurative Use: To indicate relief or a return to a calm state.
  • Once the stressful negotiation was over, the whole team could finally respire. (Once the stressful negotiation was over, the whole team could finally breathe easy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Respiration (n): The act or process of breathing; the metabolic processes involving oxygen and carbon dioxide.
  • The patient's respiration rate was normal. (The patient's breathing rate was normal.)
• Respiratory (adj): Relating to or affecting respiration or the organs of respiration.
  • Smoking can cause severe respiratory diseases. (Smoking can cause severe breathing-related diseases.)
• Respirator (n): A device worn over the mouth and nose to protect the respiratory system or to aid breathing.
  • Firefighters wear respirators in smoky environments. (Firefighters wear breathing apparatus in smoky environments.)

Synonyms

• Breathe: To inhale and exhale air. (This is the most common synonym.)
• Inhale and exhale: Describes the two-part action of breathing.
• Draw breath: A more literary way to say "breathe."

Related Phrasal Verbs/Verb Phrases

(Note: "Respire" itself is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The concept is typically expressed by the verb "breathe.")

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms using the exact word "respire." The concept is expressed through idioms with "breathe," such as "breathe a sigh of relief" or "breathe easy.")

Verb

1. draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
   • I can breathe better when the air is clean
   • The patient is respiring
2. undergo the biomedical and metabolic processes of respiration by taking up oxygen and producing carbon monoxide
3. breathe easily again, as after exertion or anxiety