RESPIRATOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does respirator mean? 

• RESPIRATOR (noun)
  The noun RESPIRATOR has 2 senses:

1. a breathing device for administering long-term artificial respiration

2. a protective mask with a filter; protects the face and lungs against poisonous gases

  Familiarity information: RESPIRATOR used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RESPIRATOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A breathing device for administering long-term artificial respiration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

inhalator; respirator

Hypernyms ("respirator" is a kind of...):

breathing apparatus; breathing device; breathing machine; ventilator (a device that facilitates breathing in cases of respiratory failure)

Meronyms (parts of "respirator"):

mouthpiece (a part that goes over or into the mouth of a person)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "respirator"):

iron lung (respirator that produces alternations in air pressure in a chamber surrounding a patient's chest to force air into and out of the lungs thus providing artificial respiration)

Derivation:

respire (draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A protective mask with a filter; protects the face and lungs against poisonous gases

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

gas helmet; gasmask; respirator

Hypernyms ("respirator" is a kind of...):

mask (a protective covering worn over the face)

 Context examples 

You might need a respirator to breathe.

(Guillain-Barre Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

A valve designed to allow the escape of exhaled gases from a respirator or respiration system.

(Exhalation Valve Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

A valve designed to regulate the flow of gases into a respirator or respiration system.

(Inhalation Valve Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

A living will usually has instructions about whether to use aggressive medical treatment to keep a person alive (such as CPR, artificial nutrition, use of a respirator).

(Living will, NCI Dictionary)