breathing, external respiration, respiration, ventilation - the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

breath - the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing; "he took a deep breath and dived into the pool"; "he was fighting to his last breath"

gasp, pant - a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open; "she gave a gasp and fainted"

drag, pull, puff - a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke); "he took a puff on his pipe"; "he took a drag on his cigarette and expelled the smoke slowly"

medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine - (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease