respiratory

[ res-per-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ri-spahyuh r-uh- ]

/ ˈrɛs pər əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, rɪˈspaɪər ə- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR respiratory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to or serving for respiration: respiratory disease.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

respighi, ottorino, respirable, respiration, respiration rate, respirator, respiratory, respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, respiratory bronchiole, respiratory capacity, respiratory center

Origin of respiratory

1780–90; < Late Latin respīrātōrius, equivalent to Latin respīrā(re) to respire + -tōrius -tory¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for respiratory

Within six days, however, the infant was admitted to a pediatric hospital with diarrhea, bluish skin, and respiratory failure.
Are Water Births Toxic to Babies?|Brandy Zadrozny|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An average of 200,000 will be sent to the hospital for respiratory and heart conditions illnesses associated with it.
The Sham, Scaremongering Guide to Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Adam Lausing, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Michigan, emphasized that Ebola is not a respiratory disease.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: October 19|PunditFact.com|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This one, too, will go the way of all respiratory infections and sooner probably than later.
Midwest's 'Mystery Virus' Is Scary but Not Deadly|Kent Sepkowitz|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The hospital found hypothermia, respiratory problems and assumed a head injury.
'We Were Liars': Teens Confront Their Beautiful, Rich Family's Dark Secrets|Samantha Levine|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The walls of this chamber, besides acting as a strainer, are also respiratory organs.
A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 1 (of 2)|David Starr Jordan
The drug kills by its action on the respiratory centre in the medulla oblongata.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5|Various
The impression is so intense, and the mind so fixed upon it, that the respiratory process is irregular, and uncontrolled.
The Reason Why|Anonymous
The respiratory act consists of inspiration, and expiration; the latter is of a little longer duration than the former.
Voice Production in Singing and Speaking|Wesley Mills
The cilia also act as respiratory organs, by changing the water with which their bodies are in contact.
An Elementary Text-book of the Microscope|John William Griffith

British Dictionary definitions for respiratory

respiratory

rarely respirational (ˌrɛspəˈreɪʃənəl)

/ (ˈrɛspərətərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

of, relating to, or affecting respiration or the organs used in respiration

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

Word Origin and History for respiratory

respiratory

adj.

1660s, from Modern Latin respiratorius or French respiratoire; see respiration + -ory.

respiratory

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of respiratory

Examples from the Web for respiratory

British Dictionary definitions for respiratory

respiratory

rarely respirational (ˌrɛspəˈreɪʃənəl)

adjective

Word Origin and History for respiratory

respiratory

Medicine definitions for respiratory

respiratory

adj.