Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Inspiration has 7 different meanings across 1 category:
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
"The sudden melody sparked a burst of inspiration, leading her to compose an entire symphony in just one night."
a product of your creative thinking and work
"he had little respect for the inspirations of other artists"
"after years of work his brainchild was a tangible reality"
a sudden intuition as part of solving a problem
"The artist experienced a moment of inspiration when she suddenly realized how to solve the complex structural flaw in her sketch."
(theology) a special influence of a divinity on the minds of human beings
"they believe that the books of Scripture were written under divine guidance"
arousing to a particular emotion or action
"The tragic story served as inspiration for her decision to become an activist."
the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing
"The poet's deep inspiration came from the cool mountain breeze filling his lungs."
The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of respiration.
"The doctor explained that his inspiration was measured precisely to ensure oxygen reached the patient's bloodstream efficiently."
In plain English: Inspiration is when something makes you feel excited and ready to create new ideas.
"The beautiful sunset gave her inspiration to start painting again."
Usage: Use inspiration to describe creative motivation or a source of ideas rather than the physical process of breathing. It is often confused with "inspire," which refers to the action that causes such feelings or thoughts.
The word "inspiration" entered Middle English from the Old French inspiracion, which itself came from Late Latin meaning a blowing into or upon someone. It replaced an earlier native English term for being mentally stimulated, carrying with it the classical sense of divine influence through breath.