Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 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. 4. To bring to a close; to terminate. [Obs.] Expire the term Of a despised life. --Shak.
\Ex*pire"\, v. i. 1. To emit the breath. 2. To emit the last breath; to breathe out the life; to die; as, to expire calmly; to expire in agony. 3. To come to an end; to cease; to terminate; to perish; to become extinct; as, the flame expired; his lease expires to-day; the month expired on Saturday. 4. To burst forth; to fly out with a blast. [Obs.] ``The ponderous ball expires.'' --Dryden.