Respirations

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of inhaling and exhaling air in a rhythmic manner to facilitate the exchange of gases in living organisms
2. the process by which organisms take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
3. a measure of the number of breaths taken in a specific time frame, often used in medical contexts

Etymology: "Respirations" is simply the plural of "respiration", so the history belongs to the singular. That noun came into Middle English as "respiracioun", borrowed from Latin "respīrātiō", a noun built from the verb "respīrāre", meaning to breathe again or to breathe out. The Latin verb combines "re-", here carrying the sense of back or again, with "spīrāre", to breathe, which is also the source of words like "spirit" and "inspire". The plural form is used when counting or describing separate instances of breathing, such as the number of breaths a patient takes per minute. In that sense, the word refers to individual breathing cycles rather than the general process of breathing.

Synonyms: breaths, inhalations, exhalations, ventilations, sighs