From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrespirere‧spire /rɪˈspaɪə $ -ˈspaɪr/ verb [intransitive] technical to breathe→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
respire• However, after dark the plants and algae stop producing oxygen and instead use it to respire.• This assists the corals in the building of their skeletons, and releases oxygen which helps the corals respire.• Plants photosynthesise during the day more rapidly than they respire at night.• Terrestrial amphibians respire through their skin and to do this must keep it moist with mucus.• However, many modern organisms respire without the aid of oxygen; that is, are anaerobic. 