| expire | 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. 4. To bring to a close; to terminate. "Expire the term Of a despised life." (Shak) Origin: L. Expirare, exspirare, expiratum, exspiratum; ex out + spirare to breathe: cf. F. Expirer. See Spirit. 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. "The ponderous ball expires." Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| expired gas | Any gas that has been expired from the lungs; often used synonymously with mixed expired gas. (05 Mar 2000) |