Word
respiration
Phoneticsres·pi·ra·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɹɛspɝˈeɪʃən/
UK/ɹˌɛspɪɹˈeɪʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the process of breathing. It is how living things take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide to get energy.
n. the biochemical process in which the cells of an organism obtain energy by combining oxygen and glucose, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.
Examples
“Exercise increases your rate of respiration.”
“The doctor monitored the patient's respiration to ensure they were getting enough oxygen during the procedure.”
“In aerobic respiration, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, a process that occurs within the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells.”
Examples
simple
“Exercise increases your rate of respiration.”
contextual
“The doctor monitored the patient's respiration to ensure they were getting enough oxygen during the procedure.”
complex
“In aerobic respiration, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, a process that occurs within the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the biological process; can be countable in medical contexts referring to a single breath.
Real-World Examples
“All living cells need energy, and most generate it through respiration, a series of chemical reactions normally confined to the cell membrane.” “The team found that the amount of oxygen matches estimates of the respiration rates of microbes and animals across the North Atlantic deep sea.” Etymology
From Middle English respiracioun, borrowed from Latin respīrātiō, respīrātiōnem.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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