respirator

American  

[res-puh-rey-ter] / ˈrɛs pəˌreɪ tər /

noun

1. a masklike device, usually of nonwoven fibrous materials, as fiberglass paper, wool felt, or polypropylene, worn over the mouth, or nose and mouth, to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances, pathogens, or the like.

   Respirators are essential protective equipment for healthcare providers during an outbreak.

2. Medicine/Medical. ventilator.

3. British. gas mask.

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respirator British  

/ ˈrɛspəˌreɪtə /

noun

1. an apparatus for providing long-term artificial respiration

2. Also called: gas mask.  a device worn over the mouth and nose to prevent inhalation of noxious fumes or to warm cold air before it is breathed

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Etymology

Origin of respirator

First recorded in 1835–40; from Latin respīrāt(us), past participle of respīrāre “to recover one's breath” + -or agent suffix; see origin at respire, -or ²

Compare meaning

How does respirator compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ventilator vs. respirator

Explanation

A respirator is a device you use to help you breathe, either for a medical reason or to filter out dust, gas, or anything else too nasty to inhale. Whether you're scraping lead paint off a wall or spray painting a car, you'll want to wear a respirator. Military members and police officers sometimes use respirators known as "gas masks" to protect themselves from fumes emitted during wars and riots. Some respirators simply purify the air that moves through them, while others, like those used in hospitals, provide oxygen. The Latin root of respirator is respirare, "breathe in and out."

Example Sentences

Respirator technology that works well for urban structure fires doesn’t translate easily into wildland areas, where crews often are working in remote, high-altitude terrain and carrying supplies on their backs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2021

Mr. Adams, 79 and now retired, started a number of pharmaceutical companies, including Adams Respirator Therapeutics, which produced his best known product, Mucinex.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 29, 2016

She solicited her neighbors, quickly collected the $2,000 a Drinker Respirator costs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mr. McN-ll.—A knitted Respirator, to be worn in the House.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, April 30, 1892 by Various

But perhaps the most valuable feature of the Respirator has been hitherto overlooked, for it is as a defence against Burglary rather than Bronchitis, that it will obtain the highest renown.

From Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) by Various