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

Carbon dioxide, known by the chemical formula CO2, is a gas produced by various natural processes, including respiration in animals and plants, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and the decay of organic matter. MORE: Do plastic bag bans work? —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 May 2025

The most powerful, natural way to modulate both of these is through respiration—pranayama, or breathing, in other words. —Tony Sanchez, Time, 25 Apr. 2025

After all, along with tracking the beats of your ticker, many also measure temperature, respiration, and other data points. —Korin Miller, SELF, 7 Mar. 2025

For example, our respiration rate changes when faced with anxiety, and similarly, arousal impacts our heart rate. —Vibhu Sharma, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for respiration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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