aerate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through.
to aerate milk in order to remove odors.
-
to change or treat with air or a gas, especially with carbon dioxide.
-
Physiology. to expose (a medium or tissue) to air as in the oxygenation of the blood in respiration.
verb
-
to charge (a liquid) with a gas, esp carbon dioxide, as in the manufacture of effervescent drink
-
to expose to the action or circulation of the air, so as to purify
-
To add a gas, such as carbon dioxide, to a liquid.
-
To supply with oxygen. Blood is aerated in the alveoli of the lungs.
-
To supply with air or expose to the circulation of air.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aerate
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."
Vocabulary lists containing aerate
Dirty Words: The Language of Gardening
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Culinary Vocabulary Sampler
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Elements of the Universe: Aer, Aero ("Air")
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The water vole is often described as an "ecosystem engineer" or a "mini-beaver" by conservationists, as they dig burrows through watercourses and help aerate the soil.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Equipment installed at various points along contaminated creeks to aerate the water ended up releasing chemicals into the air.
From Salon • Oct. 5, 2024
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
He learned how to water crops, prep and plant seeds and aerate the land, skills that would help him for generations.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2023
Erickson explained to me that the pieces of ceramic were probably intended to help build up and aerate the muddy soil for settlement and agriculture.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
