n. [ Cf. F. respirabilit&unr_;. ] The quality or state of being respirable; respirableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. respirable. ] Suitable for being breathed; adapted for respiration. -- Re*spir"a*ble*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. respiratio: cf. F. respiration. See Respire. ] 1. The act of respiring or breathing again, or catching one's breath. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Relief from toil or suffering: rest. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Till the day
Appear of respiration to the just
And vengeance to the wicked. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Interval; intermission. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Physiol.) The act of resping or breathing; the act of taking in and giving out air; the aggregate of those processes bu which oxygen is introduced into the system, and carbon dioxide, or carbonic acid, removed. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Respiration in the higher animals is divided into: (a) Internal respiration, or the interchange of oxygen and carbonic acid between the cells of the body and the bathing them, which in one sense is a process of nutrition. (b) External respiration, or the gaseous interchange taking place in the special respiratory organs, the lungs. This constitutes respiration proper. Gamgee. [ 1913 Webster ] In the respiration of plants oxygen is likewise absorbed and carbonic acid exhaled, but in the light this process is obscured by another process which goes on with more vigor, in which the plant inhales and absorbs carbonic acid and exhales free oxygen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to respiration; as, respirational difficulties. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to respiration; as, respirative organs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. respirateur. ] A divice of gauze or wire, covering the mouth or nose, to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances, as dust or smoke. Being warmed by the breath, it tempers cold air passing through it, and may also be used for the inhalation of medicated vapors. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to respiration; serving for respiration; as, the respiratory organs; respiratory nerves; the respiratory function; respiratory changes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Respiratory foods. (Physiol.) See 2d Note under Food, n., 1. --
Respiratory tree (Zool.), the branched internal gill of certain holothurians. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Respired p. pr. & vb. n. Respiring. ] [ L. respirare, respiratum; pref. re- re- + spirare to breathe: cf. F. respirer. See Spirit. ] 1. To take breath again; hence, to take rest or refreshment. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here leave me to respire. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the mountains where I now respire. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) To breathe; to inhale air into the lungs, and exhale it from them, successively, for the purpose of maintaining the vitality of the blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To breathe in and out; to inspire and expire, as air; to breathe. [ 1913 Webster ]

A native of the land where I respire
The clear air for a while. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To breathe out; to exhale. [ R. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]