expire
Definitions
To come to an end; to stop being valid (of a contract, document, period of time).
到期，期满；失效。
To die (formal or literary).
死亡（正式或文学用语）。
To breathe out (technical, in physiology).
呼气（生理学专业用语）。
Root Breakdown
Native Englishex- (out) + spire (breathe) = 'to breathe out.' Your final act in life is to breathe out once more, so expire first meant 'to die.' From the body's last breath it spread to anything reaching its end — a contract, a passport, a coupon all expire when their time runs out.
Root spir still carries 34 more wordsUsage Guide
Everyday English uses expire almost only for things running out of validity: passports, licenses, warranties, free trials. The 'die' sense is formal/literary and a bit old-fashioned — in normal speech people say 'pass away,' not 'expire.' Note the noun split: expiration (AmE) / expiry (BrE), as in expiration date / expiry date.
Example Sentences
- 1.
My passport expires at the end of next month.
- 2.
The coupon expired before I could use it.
- 3.
The patient expired peacefully in the early morning.