inspire
[ in-spahyuh r ]
/ ɪnˈspaɪər /
verb (used with object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.
verb (used without object), in·spired, in·spir·ing.
to give inspiration.
to inhale.
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Origin of inspire
1300–50; Middle English inspiren < Latin inspīrāre to breathe upon or into, equivalent to in- in-2 + spīrāre to breathe
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for inspire
British Dictionary definitions for inspire
inspire
/ (ɪnˈspaɪə) /
verb
to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
(tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
(tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise toher beauty inspired his love
(tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
to take or draw (air, gas, etc) into the lungs; inhale
(tr) archaic
- to breathe into or upon
- to breathe life into
Derived forms of inspire
inspirable, adjectiveinspirative, adjectiveinspirer, nouninspiringly, adverbWord Origin for inspire
C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for inspire
inspire
[ ĭn-spīr′ ]
v.
To draw in breath; to inhale.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.