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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.