Library / English Dictionary

INHALE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Draw in (air)

Example:

The lung cancer patient cannot inspire air very well

Synonyms:

breathe in; inhale; inspire

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "inhale" is one way to...):

breathe; respire; suspire; take a breath (draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inhale"):

aspirate (inhale (air, water, etc.))

sniff; sniffle (inhale audibly through the nose)

snivel; snuffle (snuff up mucus through the nose)

snuff (inhale (something) through the nose)

drag; draw; puff (suck in or take (air))

huff; snort (inhale recreational drugs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

exhale (expel air)

Derivation:

inhalant (something that is inhaled)

inhalant (inhaling or serving for inhalation)

inhalation (the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing)

inhalator (a breathing device for administering long-term artificial respiration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Draw deep into the lungs in by breathing

Example:

Clinton smoked marijuana but never inhaled

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "inhale" is one way to...):

smoke (inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

inhalant (something that is inhaled)

inhalant (inhaling or serving for inhalation)

inhalation (the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing)

inhalation (a medication to be taken by inhaling it)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Inhaling smoke from tobacco in the form of a cigarette.

(Cigarette Smoking, NCI Thesaurus)

A cigarette is lit on one end and smoked, and the smoke is usually inhaled into the lungs.

(Cigarette, NCI Dictionary)

The act of inhaling smoke from dried tobacco that is rolled up and called a cigar.

(Cigar Smoking, NCI Thesaurus)

When e-cigarettes are used, the nicotine solution turns into a mist that can be inhaled into the lungs.

(E-cigarette, NCI Dictionary)

A cigar is lit on one end and smoked, but the smoke is usually not inhaled into the lungs.

(Cigar, NCI Dictionary)

You can also inhale the germs.

(Common Cold, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

When inhaled, these particles are likely to reach deeply into the lungs.

(Airborne Particulate Matter, NCI Thesaurus)

Fine particles in the air are made of microscopic solids and liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems.

(Combatting epigenetic effects from outdoor air pollution, NIH)

Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems.

(Air Pollution, Environmental Protection Agency)

Inhaled nanoparticles can cross the lungs, entering the bloodstream, and accumulate in blood vessels and other bodily sites vulnerable to cardiovascular disease.

(Nanoparticles raise vascular risk by escaping the lungs, SciDev.Net)