1. The act of expiring; as: (a)(Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of breathing out, or forcing air from the lungs through the nose or mouth; as, respiration consists of inspiration and expiration; — opposed to Ant: inspiration. (b) Emission of volatile matter; exhalation. The true cause of cold is an expiration from the globe of the earth. Bacon.
(c) The last emission of breath; death. "The groan of expiration." Rambler. (d) A coming to a close; cessation; extinction; termination; end. Before the expiration of thy time. Shak.
2. That which is expired; matter breathed forth; that which is produced by breathing out, as a sound. The aspirate "he," which is . . . a gentle expiration. G. Sharp.
EXPIRATORY
Ex*pir"a*to*ry, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, the expiration or emission of air from the lungs; as, the expiratory muscles.
EXPIRE
Ex*pire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expired;p. pr & vb. n. Expiring.] Etym:
[L. expirare, exspirare, expiratum, exspiratum; ex out + spirare to
breathe: cf. F. expirer. See Spirit.]
1. To breathe out; to emit from the lungs; to throw out from the mouth or nostrils in the process of respiration; — opposed to inspire. Anatomy exhibits the lungs in a continual motion of inspiring and expiring air. Harvey. This chafed the boar; his nostrils flames expire. Dryden.
2. To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapor; to emit in minute particles; to exhale; as, the earth expires a damp vapor; plants expire odors. The expiring of cold out of the inward parts of the earth in winter. Bacon.
3. To emit; to give out. [Obs.] Dryden.