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| in·spire [ in spr ] (past and past participle in·spired, present participle in·spir·ing, 3rd person present singular in·spires) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb stimulate somebody to do something: to encourage somebody to greater effort, enthusiasm, or creativity
  a speech that inspired a generation
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2. transitive verb provoke particular feeling: to arouse a particular feeling in somebody
inspires optimism
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3. transitive verb cause creative activity: to stimulate somebody to do something, especially creative or artistic work
inspired him to write a song
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4. transitive and intransitive verb physiology breathe in: to inhale air or a gas into the lungs
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| [14th century. Via French< Latin inspirare< spirare "breathe"] |
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| in·spir·a·ble adjective |
| in·spir·er noun |
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