inhale

Everyday

1. To breathe air or another gas into your lungs. tree →
2. To take in smoke, dust or a medicine by breathing it in. tree →
3. (informal) To eat something very fast, as if breathing it in. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons inhale is the breathing-in part of breathing: you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. In safety, you should not inhale smoke, fumes or dust. Children with asthma use an inhaler to inhale medicine. Phrases: inhale deeply, inhale and exhale, breathe in.

Examples

• Inhale slowly through your nose, then breathe out. tree →
• When you inhale, your chest gets bigger. tree →
• Never inhale fumes from paint or glue. tree →
• Stay low in a fire so you do not inhale smoke. tree →
• She used her inhaler to inhale her medicine. tree →
• We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. tree →
• My brother inhaled his pizza in two minutes (informal). tree →
• Bright and joyous were his feelings as he stepped lightly onwards, inhaling the invigorating mountain air. tree →

Note

Regular verb: inhaled, inhaling. Opposite: exhale (breathe out). Noun: inhalation; device: an inhaler. Everyday word: breathe in. Trap: you inhale air, not "inhale out".