RESPIRATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does respiration mean? 

• RESPIRATION (noun)
  The noun RESPIRATION has 3 senses:

1. the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs

2. a single complete act of breathing in and out

3. the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

  Familiarity information: RESPIRATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RESPIRATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

cellular respiration; internal respiration; respiration

Hypernyms ("respiration" is a kind of...):

metabolic process; metabolism (the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life)

Derivation:

respire (undergo the biomedical and metabolic processes of respiration by taking up oxygen and producing carbon monoxide)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A single complete act of breathing in and out

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

thirty respirations per minute

Hypernyms ("respiration" is a kind of...):

activity; bodily function; bodily process; body process (an organic process that takes place in the body)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

breathing; external respiration; respiration; ventilation

Hypernyms ("respiration" is a kind of...):

activity; bodily function; bodily process; body process (an organic process that takes place in the body)

Meronyms (parts of "respiration"):

breathing out; exhalation; expiration (the act of expelling air from the lungs)

aspiration; breathing in; inhalation; inspiration; intake (the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "respiration"):

artificial respiration (an emergency procedure whereby breathing is maintained artificially)

abdominal breathing (breathing in which most of the respiratory effort is done by the abdominal muscles)

eupnea; eupnoea (normal relaxed breathing)

hyperpnea (energetic (deep and rapid) respiration that occurs normally after exercise or abnormally with fever or various disorders)

hypopnea (slow or shallow breathing)

hyperventilation (an increased depth and rate of breathing greater than demanded by the body needs; can cause dizziness and tingling of the fingers and toes and chest pain if continued)

heaving; panting (breathing heavily (as after exertion))

Cheyne-Stokes respiration; periodic breathing (abnormal respiration in which periods of shallow and deep breathing alternate)

smoke; smoking (the act of smoking tobacco or other substances)

snore; snoring; stertor (the act of snoring or producing a snoring sound)

sniffle; snivel; snuffle (the act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested))

wheeze (breathing with a husky or whistling sound)

second wind (the return of relatively easy breathing after initial exhaustion during continuous exertion)

Derivation:

respire (draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs)

respire (undergo the biomedical and metabolic processes of respiration by taking up oxygen and producing carbon monoxide)

 Context examples 

This membrane contains fibrin and cellular debris and interferes with respiration.

(Hyaline Membrane Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Furthermore, econazole has also been implicated to inhibit endogenous respiration, interact with membrane phospholipids, inhibit purine uptake, and impair triglyceride and/or phospholipid biosynthesis.

(Econazole, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in mitochondrial respiration.

(COX6C Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

A valve designed to regulate the flow of gases into a respirator or respiration system.

(Inhalation Valve Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

These coenzymes play an important role in tissue respiration and in glycogen, lipid, amino acid, protein, and purine metabolism.

(Niacin, NCI Thesaurus)

The administration of oxygen to an individual, usually to aid in respiration.

(Oxygen Therapy, NCI Thesaurus)

Also called aerobic metabolism, aerobic respiration, and cell respiration.

(Oxidative metabolism, NCI Dictionary)

This protein is involved in both iron-sulfur cluster binding and the regulation of cell respiration.

(CDGSH Iron-Sulfur Domain-Containing Protein 1, NCI Thesaurus)

It increases the volume of the thoracic cavity through contractions, thus facilitating respiration.

(Diaphragm, NCI Thesaurus)

Also called aerobic metabolism, cell respiration, and oxidative metabolism.

(Aerobic respiration, NCI Dictionary)