- Expiring
- Expire Ex*pire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Expired}; p. pr & vb. n.
{Expiring}.] [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}.
[1913 Webster]
Anatomy exhibits the lungs in a continual motion of inspiring and expiring air. --Harvey. [1913 Webster]
This chafed the boar; his nostrils flames expire. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
The expiring of cold out of the inward parts of the earth in winter. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
3. To emit; to give out. [Obs.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
4. To bring to a close; to terminate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Expire the term Of a despised life. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
