verb
expire
To breathe out air.
During the breathing test, she expires slowly through her mouth.
Etymology
The Latin verb means to breathe out. This use preserves its direct bodily action, rather than the later senses of dying or reaching an end date.
More examples
- The patient expires into a device that measures airflow.
- As you expire, your diaphragm relaxes and air leaves your lungs.
- The technician measures how much air he expires in one second.
Forms
expire · expires · expired · expiring
expiration noun — The act of breathing air out.
Similar words
- exhale
- The usual everyday word for breathing air out.