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.
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.
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.
Res`pi*ra"tion*al (r?s`p?*r?"sh?n-al), a. Of or pertaining to
respiration; as, respirational difficulties.
Re*spir"a*tive (r?*sp?*r?*t?v), a. Of or pertaining to respiration; as,
respirative organs.
Res"pi*ra`tor (r?s"p?*r?`t?r), 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.
Re*spir"a*to*ry (r?*sp?r"?*t?*r? or r?s"p?*r?-), a. (Physiol.) Of or
pertaining to respiration; serving for respiration; as, the respiratory
organs; respiratory nerves; the respiratory function; respiratory
changes.
Respiratory foods. (Physiol.) See 2d Note under Food, n., 1. --
Respiratory tree (Zoöl.), the branched internal gill of certain
holothurians.
Re*spire" (r?*sp?r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Respired (-sp?rd"); p. pr. &
vvb. 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.
Here leave me to respire.
Milton.
From the mountains where I now respire.
Byron.
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.
Re*spire", v. t. 1. To breathe in and out; to inspire and expire,, as
air; to breathe.
A native of the land where I respire The clear air for a while.
Byron.