respiration
UK: ˌrɛspɪˈreɪʃən | US: ˌrɛspəˈreɪʃən
n. the process of breathing; the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide by living organisms
n. (biology) the metabolic process of gas exchange in cells or tissues
n. (formal) a single act of breathing (e.g., "deep respirations")
respiration = re<again> + spir<breath> + ation<noun suffix>
- re: Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back," indicating repetition.
- spir: From Latin spirare ("to breathe"), the root of words like "spirit" (originally "breath of life") and "inspire" ("to breathe in").
- ation: A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process (e.g., "creation," "observation").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin respirare ("to breathe out, exhale"), combining re- (suggesting cyclical action) and spirare. Over time, it broadened to encompass the entire breathing process. The root spir reflects the ancient link between breath and life, seen in myths (e.g., divine breath animating humans) and language (e.g., "expire" meaning both "to die" and "to exhale").
Plants perform respiration at night, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.
The doctor monitored the patient’s respiration rate after surgery.
Deep respiration exercises can help reduce stress.
Fish use gills for respiration underwater.
Cellular respiration converts glucose into energy for the body.