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; respire, -or ²

Compare meaning

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

• ventilator vs. respirator

Example Sentences

Li suffers from an incurable genetic disease that progressively weakens hismuscles, and he relies on an artificial respirator to survive.

From Barron's

They wore respirators while they worked to avoid dangerous ash and chemicals, and began by stripping the car down to bare metal.

From Los Angeles Times

The bag held things like money and respirator masks and paper maps and a first-aid kit and copies of their important documents.

From Literature

Wearing white hazmat suits that cover them from head to toe, gloves, respirator masks and goggles, a group of workers enters the residence.

From Los Angeles Times

In white coverall suits and full-face respirators, hazmat workers went property by property sifting through the ashes to dredge up lead-acid batteries, tins of paint thinner and pesticide canisters.

From Los Angeles Times