The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Respire \Re*spire"\ (r?*sp?r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Respired
   (-sp?rd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Respiring.] [L. respirare,
   respiratum; pref. re- re- + spirare to breathe: cf. F.
   respirer. See Spirit.]
   1. To take breath again; hence, to take rest or refreshment.
      --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

            Here leave me to respire.             --Milton.
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            From the mountains where I now respire. --Byron.
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   2. (Physiol.) To breathe; to inhale air into the lungs, and
      exhale it from them, successively, for the purpose of
      maintaining the vitality of the blood.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Respire \Re*spire"\, v. t.
   1. To breathe in and out; to inspire and expire,, as air; to
      breathe.
      [1913 Webster]

            A native of the land where I respire
            The clear air for a while.            --Byron.
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   2. To breathe out; to exhale. [R.] --B. Jonson.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

respire
    v 1: breathe easily again, as after exertion or anxiety
    2: undergo the biomedical and metabolic processes of respiration
       by taking up oxygen and producing carbon monoxide
    3: draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs; "I can breathe
       better when the air is clean"; "The patient is respiring"
       [syn: breathe, take a breath, respire, suspire]