- 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.]
- 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.]
- To emit; to give out.(Obs)
- To bring to a close; to terminate.(Obs)" Expire the term Of a despised life." [Shak.]
Etymology: L. expirare exspirare expiratum exspiratum; ex out + spirare to breathe: cf. F. expirer. See Spirit