respire
verb
re·spire ri-ˈspī(-ə)r 
respired; respiring
intransitive verb
1
: breathe
specifically : to inhale and exhale air successively
2
of a cell or tissue : to take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation
transitive verb
: breathe
Synonyms
- breathe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Fish use their gills to respire. though unconscious, the patient is still respiring
Recent Examples on the Web Vegetables that respire at a higher rate keep better in the refrigerator crisper, where food retains more moisture than in the open space of the main refrigerator compartment, which can draw moisture out of produce. 
Anne-marie Bonneau, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2021 Consider leafy vegetables, which immediately start to respire faster once they are cut. Nicola Temple, WSJ, 4 May 2018 The gases are then respired out of the lungs: literal fart breath. Brian Resnick, Vox, 3 Apr. 2018 In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast. Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 20 June 2017 This makes sense, since roots are respiring organs. Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2017 In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast. Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 21 June 2017 See More
Anne-marie Bonneau, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2021 Consider leafy vegetables, which immediately start to respire faster once they are cut. Nicola Temple, WSJ, 4 May 2018 The gases are then respired out of the lungs: literal fart breath. Brian Resnick, Vox, 3 Apr. 2018 In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast. Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 20 June 2017 This makes sense, since roots are respiring organs. Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2017 In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast. Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 21 June 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin respirare, from re- + spirare to blow, breathe
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Kids Definition
respire
verb
re·spire ri-ˈspīr
respired; respiring
: breathe sense 1
Medical Definition
respire
verb
re·spire ri-ˈspī(ə)r
respired; respiring
intransitive verb
1
: breathe
specifically : to inhale and exhale air successively
2
of a cell or tissue : to take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation
transitive verb
: breathe
respiring
verb
as in breathing
to inhale and exhale air though unconscious, the patient is still respiring Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- breathing
- snoring
- inbreathing
- gasping
- inspiring
- wheezing
- panting
- puffing
- huffing
- yawning
- sniffing
- snorting
- snuffing
- snuffling
- expiring
- drawing
- suspiring
- whiffing
- blowing (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suffocating
- asphyxiating
- choking
- smothering
- gagging
- stifling
- strangling
- throttling
- garotting
- garroting