online medical dictionary | definition of 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."

(01 Mar 1998)