ventilate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air in place of air that has been used or contaminated.
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Medicine/Medical.
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to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills.
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to assist the breathing of (a person), as with a respirator.
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(of air or wind) to circulate through or blow on, so as to cool or freshen the air of.
Cool breezes ventilated the house.
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to expose to the action of air or wind.
to ventilate floor timbers.
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to submit (a question, problem, etc.) to open, full examination and discussion.
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to give utterance or expression to (an opinion, complaint, etc.).
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to furnish with a vent or opening, as for the escape of air or gas.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to drive foul air out of (an enclosed area)
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to provide with a means of airing
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to expose (a question, grievance, etc) to public examination or discussion
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physiol to oxygenate (the blood) in the capillaries of the lungs
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to winnow (grain)
Other Word Forms
- overventilate verb (used with object)
- reventilate verb (used with object)
- self-ventilated adjective
- underventilate verb (used with object)
- underventilated adjectiveunderventilated, underventilating
- unventilated adjective
- ventilable adjective
- well-ventilated adjective
Etymology
Origin of ventilate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ventilatten “to blow (something) away,” from Latin ventilātus (past participle of ventilāre “to fan”), equivalent to vent(us) “wind” + -il- verb suffix (variant of -ul-, originally after derivatives of nouns ending in -ulus ) + -ātus suffix forming adjectives; -ule, -ate 1; speculate, wind 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dr McCartney says you can also reduce your risk of colds by being in well ventilated spaces and washing your hands regularly and properly.
From BBC
"If you need to go out with symptoms, consider wearing a face covering, wash hands regularly and ensure indoor spaces are well ventilated," he added.
From BBC
Specially-trained firefighters carried out a "systematic sweep" of the property to detect any hazardous materials and ventilate the scene.
From BBC
Plus, the standard Model Y covers up Tesla’s usual panoramic glass roof with a fabric headliner, and neither model comes with ventilated front seats.
From MarketWatch
Plus, the standard Model Y covers up Tesla’s usual panoramic glass roof with a fabric headliner, and neither model comes with ventilated front seats.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.