aerate

American  

[air-eyt, ey-uh-reyt] / ˈɛər eɪt, ˈeɪ əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

aerated, aerating

1. to expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through.

   to aerate milk in order to remove odors.

2. to change or treat with air or a gas, especially with carbon dioxide.

3. Physiology. to expose (a medium or tissue) to air as in the oxygenation of the blood in respiration.

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aerate British  

/ ˈɛəreɪt /

verb

1. to charge (a liquid) with a gas, esp carbon dioxide, as in the manufacture of effervescent drink

2. to expose to the action or circulation of the air, so as to purify

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aerate Scientific  

/ âr′āt /

1. To add a gas, such as carbon dioxide, to a liquid.

2. To supply with oxygen. Blood is aerated in the alveoli of the lungs.

3. To supply with air or expose to the circulation of air.

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Other Word Forms

• aeration noun
• aerator noun
• nonaerated adjective
• nonaerating adjective
• subaerate verb (used with object)
• subaeration noun
• unaerated adjective

Etymology

Origin of aerate

1785–95; < Latin āer- aer- + -ate ¹

Explanation

To aerate something is to put air into it. When a pastry chef whips cream, she aerates it, filling it with air until it's light and fluffy. Gardeners sometimes aerate soil with special spikes, allowing air to penetrate the surface and helping lawns or plants get more oxygen. If you aerate water or juice, you carbonate it, resulting in a fizzy soda. Cooking, baking, aquarium maintenance, and chemistry are just some of the activities that occasionally require someone to aerate some material. In Latin, aer means "air."

Example Sentences

A keystone species, bears are known to till and aerate soil as they search for potato-like roots like Alpine sweetvetch, munch on berries, and later deposit the seeds through their scat.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 26, 2023

The obvious utility of iron for fashioning tougher and more durable tools used to clear forests, aerate land, and dig trench- based irrigation systems led others to adopt the new material.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Make sure to whisk and sift thoroughly in order to combine the flour and cornstarch evenly and aerate the mixture.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2022

In Colorado, Lani Malmberg and her son Donny Benz manage a herd of about 1,200 goats and have traveled to 17 states to create firebreaks, remove brush and noxious plants, and aerate the soil.

From Washington Post • Jun. 21, 2022

In general the effect of all this habitation of the soil is to aerate it and improve both its drainage and the penetration of water throughout the layers of plant growth.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• oxygenate