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irrespirable

American  
[ih-res-per-uh-buhl, ir-i-spahyuhr-uh-buhl] / ɪˈrɛs pər ə bəl, ˌɪr ɪˈspaɪər ə bəl /

adjective

  1. not respirable; unfit for breathing.


irrespirable British  
/ ɪˈrɛspɪrəbəl, ˌɪrɪˈspaɪərəbəl /

adjective

  1. not fit for breathing or incapable of being breathed

"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

Etymology

Origin of irrespirable

From the Late Latin word irrespīrābilis, dating back to 1815–25. See ir- 2, respirable


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But this refers only to crude acetylene undiluted with air; and being a hydrocarbon—being in fact neither oxygen nor common air—acetylene is irrespirable of itself though largely devoid of specific toxic action.

From Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use A Practical Handbook on the Production, Purification, and Subsequent Treatment of Acetylene for the Development of Light, Heat, and Power by F. H. (Frank Henley) Leeds

The burning of sulphur produces sulphurous acid, which is an irrespirable gas.

From A Practical Physiology by Albert F. Blaisdell

Effects of Impure Air.—Carbonic acid, in its pure form, is irrespirable, causing rapid death by suffocation.

From A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene For Educational Institutions and General Readers by Joseph Chrisman Hutchison

“Black damp” consists of accumulations of irrespirable gases, mostly nitrogen, which cause the lights to burn dimly, and the term “white damp” is sometimes applied to carbon monoxide.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various

An irrespirable gas, remaining after an explosion of fire damp in mines; choke damp.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Noah Webster

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