aspiration

[ as-puh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition:

   intellectual aspirations.

   Synonyms: craving, yearning

2. a goal or objective that is strongly desired:

   The presidency has been his aspiration since boyhood.

3. the act of aspirating or breathing in.
4. Phonetics.
   1. articulation accompanied by an audible puff of breath, as in the h -sound of how, or of when (hwen), or in the release of initial stops, as in the k -sound of key.
   2. the use of such a speech sound, or aspirate, in pronunciation.
5. Medicine/Medical.
   1. the act of removing a fluid, as pus or serum, from a cavity of the body, by a hollow needle or trocar connected with a suction syringe.
   2. the act of inhaling fluid or a foreign body into the bronchi and lungs, often after vomiting.

aspiration

/ -trɪ; ˈæspɪrətərɪ; -trɪ; ˌæspɪˈreɪʃən; əˈspaɪrətərɪ /

noun

1. strong desire to achieve something, such as success
2. the aim of such desire
3. 1. the act of breathing
   2. a breath
4. phonetics
   1. the pronunciation of a stop with an audible and forceful release of breath
   2. the friction of the released breath
   3. an aspirated consonant
5. removal of air or fluid from a body cavity by suction
6. med
   1. the sucking of fluid or foreign matter into the air passages of the body
   2. the removal of air or fluid from the body by suction

Derived Forms

• ˌaspiˈrational, adjective
• aspiratory, adjective

Other Words From

• aspi·ration·al adjective
• super·aspi·ration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspiration¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin aspīrātiōn-, stem of aspīrātiō “a breathing upon”; aspirate, -ion

Example Sentences

Both high fashion and the fast, commercial fashion of Target are supposed to be about aspiration.

From The Daily Beast

The salaries were reduced so much that 1000 euro for many workers has now become a goal or aspiration.

From The Daily Beast

Nine years later, making 1,000 euro a month has become an aspiration for many.

From The Daily Beast

Is getting involved in politics a serious aspiration of yours?

From The Daily Beast

But Roosevelt rooted it firmly in American experience and aspiration.

From The Daily Beast

In this way, public curiosity may be gratified, but hardly any private aspiration after fame.

From Project Gutenberg

Property, the family, the state, are sacred; but aspiration toward the recognition of the equality of men is insanity.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond all this Michael sincerely tried to correct his morals and manners in the light of aspiration and faith.

From Project Gutenberg

The Romantic aspiration is revealed in Steinle, even, in a certain “yearning after colour.”

From Project Gutenberg

Phœbe's aspiration to become like her teacher did not lessen as the days went on.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aim
• ambition
• desire
• dream
• eagerness
• endeavor
• inclination
• longing
• objective
• passion
• wish
• yearning