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spiro-

1 American  

  1. a combining form meaning “respiration,” used in the formation of compound words.

    spirograph.
spiro- 2 American  
especially before a vowel, spir-

  1. a combining form meaning “coil,” “spiral,” used in the formation of compound words.

    spirochete.
spiro- 1 British  

combining form

  1. indicating breath or respiration

    spirograph
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
spiro- 2 British  

combining form

  1. spiral; coil

    spirochaete
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spiro-1

Combining form of Latin spīrāre “to breathe”

Origin of spiro-2

Combining form of Latin spīra, from Greek speîra “coil”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some lawyers say they upped their rates to $3,000 or more an hour in response to public reports of a couple of superstar lawyers—including celebrity trial lawyer Alex Spiro and Supreme Court litigator Neal Katyal—beginning to charge that.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sienna Spiro, with her Dusty Springfield glamour, was close behind thanks to the breakout single “Die On This Hill.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Spiro favors crawling tempos and unadorned piano melodies, which leave more room for her husky voice.

From The Wall Street Journal

EsDeeKid’s terse, battering sound is a world away from that of Dean and Spiro.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The U.K. does this,” Spiro said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.