respiration

Respiration is taking a breath or the act of breathing.

(noun)

An example of respiration is inhaling and exhaling air.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See respiration in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. act or process of respiring; breathing; inhaling and exhaling air
  2. the processes by which a living organism or cell takes in oxygen from the air or water, distributes and utilizes it in oxidation, and gives off products of oxidation, esp. carbon dioxide
  3. an analogous process in anaerobic organisms involving some substance other than free oxygen

Origin: ME respiracioun < L respiratio < respiratus, pp.

Related Forms:

See respiration in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. The act or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. Also called ventilation.
    b. The act or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a fish or plant, exchanges gases with its environment.
  2. a. The oxidative process occurring within living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules is released in a series of metabolic steps involving the consumption of oxygen and the liberation of carbon dioxide and water.
    b. Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which certain organisms, such as fungi and anaerobic bacteria, obtain energy from organic molecules.

Related Forms:

  • resˌpi·raˈtion·al adjective

Learn more about respiration

Related Articles

respiration

link/cite print suggestion box