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respiratory quotient
noun
: a ratio indicating the relation of the volume of carbon dioxide given off in respiration to that of the oxygen consumed
Examples of respiratory quotient in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In other words, those with a higher respiratory quotient lost more weight on a low-carb diet, and vice versa.
—Mac Stone, Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2023
Its devices provide users with a metabolic level based on the composition of a single breath, or what’s known as respiratory quotient (RQ).
—Megan Tatum, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2020
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Word History
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of respiratory quotient was
in 1879
Dictionary Entries Near respiratory quotient
Cite this Entry
“Respiratory quotient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respiratory%20quotient. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Medical Definition
respiratory quotient
noun
: the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide given off in respiration to that of the oxygen consumed that has a value near 1 when the organism is burning chiefly carbohydrates, near 0.7 when chiefly fats, and near 0.8 when chiefly proteins but sometimes exceeding 1 when carbohydrates are being changed to fats for storage
—abbreviation RQ
More from Merriam-Webster on respiratory quotient
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about respiratory quotient
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