Inspiration Meaning
/ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of breathing.
nounA single inward breath (intake of air).
Sentence Examples
What is your greatest source of inspiration?
I lost my inspiration.
Dreams can be a rich source of inspiration for an artist.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist found ____ for her new painting while walking in the forest.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The beautiful sunset over the ocean provided the artist with the ____ for her next big painting.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English inspiracioun, from Old French inspiration, from Late Latin īnspīrātiōnem (nominative: īnspīrātiō), from Latin īnspīrātus (past participle of inspīrō). By surface analysis, inspire + -ation. Displaced native Old English onbryrdnes (literally “in-pricked-ness”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The respiratory movements are no longer normal and rhythmic acts of inspiration and exspiration, but abnormal and irregular expiratory movements"
— 1857, M. Hall [junior] editor, Prone and postival respiration in drowning and other forms of apricea, or suspended respiration:
"If a reaction involves increased muscle tonus and too much inspiration, muscle relaxation and exhalation exercises might be of use."
— 2008, G Berghs, “Stage fright in singers: Three reaction types”, in Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica:
"Laughing is produced by an inspiration succeeded by a succession of short imperfect expirations."
— 1826, John Bostock, An Elementary System of Physiology, page 220:
"One of them had a temperature of 40° cent. 104° Fahr. and 97 inspirations per minute."
— 1838, Thomas Hodgkin, Dr. Fisher, On the influence of physical agents on life, translation of original by William Frédéric Edwards, Pouillet (Claude Servais Mathias, M.), and Luke Howard:
"On physical examination, blood pressure was 145/70 mm Hg, pulse was 108 beats per minute, respiratory rate was 36 inspirations per minute, body temperature was 38 ºC and her oxygen saturation (during nasal oxygen intake) was 93%."
— 2013, A Kose, C Yildirim, B Kose, N Gunay, …, “Can agricultural drugs be used against lice? Accident, suicide or truth? Case presentations”, in Eastern Journal of Medicine:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The artist found ____ for her new painting while walking in the forest.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The beautiful sunset over the ocean provided the artist with the ____ for her next big painting.