A respirator is a device that allows people to breathe when they cannot breathe naturally, for example because they are ill or have been injured. She was so ill that she was put on a respirator
A filtering device which covers the nose and mouth and prevents inhalation of dust or fumes; should have the U S Bureau of Mines certificate or approval for the specific contaminant being filtered out Handkerchiefs and gauze masks give little or no protection
{i} device used for artificial respiration in patients who cannot breathe independently (Medicine); gas mask, mask that protects against poisonous fumes (British); mask that prevents inhalation of dangerous substances