Inhalation

ˌɪnhəˈleɪʃən

nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The act of breathing in.

ˌɪnhəˈleɪʃən

nounneutralBeginner
General

The action of breathing in.

The doctor instructed the patient on proper inhalation techniques.

💡 Simply: Inhalation is just like when you take a big, deep breath. Like when you smell cookies baking, you're doing inhalation! You're breathing air into your body.

👶 For kids: When you breathe in, that's inhalation!

More Examples

2

Deep inhalation is often used in yoga to promote relaxation.

3

The study focused on the effects of long-term inhalation of dust particles.

How It's Used

Medical

"The medication is administered through inhalation."

Environmental Science

"The inhalation of polluted air can be harmful to health."

2

The act of drawing air or another substance into the lungs.

ˌɪnhəˈleɪʃən

nounneutralmedium
Medical

The act of drawing something into the lungs.

Inhalation of the aerosolized medication was the prescribed treatment.

💡 Simply: Inhalation can be about breathing in air, but also about drawing in things like medicine through a special device. Think of a puffer for asthma – you're inhaling the medicine!

👶 For kids: When you breathe in something other than just air, like medicine, that's also called inhalation!

More Examples

2

Avoid the inhalation of toxic substances.

3

Prolonged inhalation of the gas could be dangerous.

How It's Used

Medical

"The patient received the drug by inhalation."

Chemistry

"Inhalation of the chemical fumes caused immediate irritation."

Tip:Imagine drawing something in through your breath; that's inhalation.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

Inhalation therapy

Medical treatment involving the inhalation of substances, usually medication, to treat respiratory conditions.

"The doctor prescribed inhalation therapy for her asthma."

From Late Latin *inhalatio*, from *inhalare* 'to breathe in', from *in-* 'in' + *halare* 'to breathe'.

The word inhalation has been used in medical texts and literature since the 17th century, reflecting the evolving understanding of human respiration and treatments.

Memory tip

Imagine inhaling a deep breath; that's inhalation!

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to breathe in"

deep inhalationshallow inhalationinhalation therapyprolonged inhalationrepeated inhalation

Common misspellings

inhallationinhelationinhelation

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written