inspiratory
|in-spir-a-tor-y|
🇺🇸
/ɪnˈspɪrətɔːri/
🇬🇧
/ɪnˈspɪrət(ə)ri/
relating to breathing in
Etymology
'inspiratory' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'inspirare,' where the prefix 'in-' meant 'into' and 'spirare' meant 'to breathe.'
'inspirare' passed into Late/Medieval Latin as 'inspiratorius' (meaning 'relating to breathing into' or 'causing inspiration') and the adjective form entered English as 'inspiratory' in post-medieval usage.
Initially it meant 'to breathe into' or figuratively 'to instill (spirit or influence)'; over time the word's use narrowed in modern English to primarily mean 'relating to inhalation' (medical/physiological sense).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sound, phase, or action associated with inhalation (e.g., an inspiratory sound or inspiratory phase of breathing).
An inspiratory creak was heard during auscultation.
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Adjective 1
relating to inhalation or the act of breathing in (medical/physiological).
The patient showed inspiratory distress and required supplemental oxygen.
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Last updated: 2025/12/08 23:30