respiratory

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   pertaining to respiration

   respiratory assistance

2. 2
   adj

   Relating to respiration or the organs of respiration; breathing.

   Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin respīrātōrius, equal to respire + -atory.