Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Inspiration \In`spi*ra"tion\, n. [F. inspiration, L. inspiratio.
   See {Inspire}.]
   1. The act of inspiring or breathing in; breath; specif.
      (Physiol.), the drawing of air into the lungs,
      accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls
      and flattening of the diaphragm; -- the opposite of
      expiration.

   2. The act or power of exercising an elevating or stimulating
      influence upon the intellect or emotions; the result of
      such influence which quickens or stimulates; as, the
      inspiration of occasion, of art, etc.

            Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their
            death have good inspirations.         --Shak.

   3. (Theol.) A supernatural divine influence on the prophets,
      apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified
      to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a
      supernatural influence which qualifies men to receive and
      communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.

            All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. --2
                                                  Tim. iii. 16.

            The age which we now live in is not an age of
            inspiration and impulses.             --Sharp.

   {Plenary inspiration} (Theol.), that kind of inspiration
      which excludes all defect in the utterance of the inspired
      message.

   {Verbal inspiration} (Theol.), that kind of inspiration which
      extends to the very words and forms of expression of the
      divine message.

Source : WordNet®

inspiration
     n 1: arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or
          creativity
     2: 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" [syn:
         {brainchild}]
     3: a sudden intuition as part of solving a problem
     4: (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" [syn: {divine guidance}]
     5: arousing to a particular emotion or action [syn: {stirring}]
     6: the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases)
        as in breathing [syn: {inhalation}, {aspiration}, {breathing
        in}]