respiration

noun

res·​pi·​ra·​tion ˌre-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the movement of air or dissolved gases into and out of the lungs

b

: a single complete act of breathing

… the patient was cyanotic and unconscious with labored respirations at 40/min.

—Dorwyn W. Croom

2

: the physical and chemical processes (such as breathing and diffusion) by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves them of the carbon dioxide formed in energy-producing reactions

3

: cellular respiration

respiratory

ˈre-sp(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ri-ˈspī-rə-

adjective

Examples of respiration in a Sentence

The doctor checked his heartbeat and respiration.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hyland attached sensors to Bottas that measured data like his heart rate, brain activity, sweat production and respiration. —Joseph Wolkin, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Despite what the marketing suggests, very few wearables are FDA approved The Oura Ring 4, out this week, uses a variety of lights and sensors to measure your heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and movement. —Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Earning our Editor's Choice Award for high-end fitness tracker, the Garmin Vivoactive 4 measures tons of advanced metrics, including (underwater) heart rate, respiration rate, stress level, pulse ox, and more, with access to over 20 preloaded sports apps and on-screen animations. —Cierra Cowan, PCMAG, 8 Oct. 2024

After a fear episode, for example, the body’s powerful, life-saving threat response must be terminated to restore resting heartbeat, respiration, blood flow and the rest. —R. Douglas Fields, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English respiracioun, from Latin respiration-, respiratio, from respirare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing respiration

• artificial respiration
• cell respiration
• cellular respiration
• external respiration
• internal respiration

Kids Definition

respiration

noun

res·​pi·​ra·​tion ˌres-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act or process of breathing

2

: the physical processes (as breathing and diffusion) by which a living thing obtains the oxygen it needs to produce energy and eliminate waste gases (as carbon dioxide)

3

: any of various chemical reactions (as oxidation) in cells that release energy from food molecules (as glucose)

Medical Definition

respiration

noun

res·​pi·​ra·​tion ˌres-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the movement of respiratory gases (as oxygen and carbon dioxide) into and out of the lungs

b

: a single complete act of breathing

30 respirations per minute

2

: the physical and chemical processes (as breathing and diffusion) by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves them of the carbon dioxide formed in energy-producing reactions

3

: cellular respiration