Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

respiration

 - 6 dictionary results

res⋅pi⋅ra⋅tion

[res-puh-rey-shuhn]
–noun
1. the act of respiring; inhalation and exhalation of air; breathing.
2. Biology.
a. the sum total of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by which oxygen is conveyed to tissues and cells, and the oxidation products, carbon dioxide and water, are given off.
b. an analogous chemical process, as in muscle cells or in anaerobic bacteria, occurring in the absence of oxygen.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME respiracioun < L respīrātiōn- (s. of respīrātiō) a breathing out, equiv. to respīrāt(us) (ptp. of respīrāre to respire ) + -iōn- -ion


res⋅pi⋅ra⋅tion⋅al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To respiration
res·pi·ra·tion   (rěs'pə-rā'shən)   
n.  
    1. The act or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. Also called ventilation.

    2. The act or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a fish or plant, exchanges gases with its environment.

    3. 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.

    4. Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which certain organisms, such as fungi and anaerobic bacteria, obtain energy from organic molecules.

    1. 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.

    2. Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which certain organisms, such as fungi and anaerobic bacteria, obtain energy from organic molecules.

res'pi·ra'tion·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

respiration

The conversion of oxygen by living things into the energy by which they continue life. Respiration is part of metabolism.

Note: Carbon dioxide is a waste product of respiration.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: res·pi·ra·tion
Pronunciation: "res-p&-'rA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 a : the placing of air or dissolved gases inintimate contact with the circulating medium (as blood) of a multicellular organism (as by breathing) b : a single complete act of breathing <30 respirations perminute>
2 : the physical and chemical processes by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen needed for metabolism and relieves them of the carbon dioxideformed in energy-producing reactions
3 : any of various energy-yielding oxidative reactions in living matter that typically involve transfer of oxygen and production of carbondioxide and water as end products respiration>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

respiration res·pi·ra·tion (rěs'pə-rā'shən)
n.
Abbr. R

  1. The act or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. Also called ventilation.

  2. The act or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a fish or plant, exchanges gases with its environment.

  3. 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.

  4. Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which organisms, such as fungi, obtain energy from organic molecules.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
respiration   (rěs'pə-rā'shən)  Pronunciation Key 


(click for larger image in new window)

  1. The process by which organisms exchange gases, especially oxygen and carbon dioxide, with the environment. In air-breathing vertebrates, respiration takes place in the lungs. In fish and many invertebrates, respiration takes place through the gills. Respiration in green plants occurs during photosynthesis.

  2. See cellular respiration.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see respiration on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: