aspirate

[ verb as-puh-reyt; noun, adjective, as-per-it ]

/ verb ˈæs pəˌreɪt; noun, adjective, ˈæs pər ɪt /

verb (used with object), as·pi·rat·ed, as·pi·rat·ing.

Phonetics.

to articulate (a speech sound, especially a stop) so as to produce an audible puff of breath, as with the first t of total, the second t being unaspirated.
to articulate (the beginning of a word or syllable) with an h-sound, as in which, pronounced (hwich), or hitch as opposed to witch or itch.

Medicine/Medical.

to remove (a fluid) from a body cavity by use of an aspirator or suction syringe.
to inhale (fluid or a foreign body) into the bronchi and lungs, often after vomiting.

to draw or remove by suction.

noun

Phonetics. a speech sound having as an obvious concomitant an audible puff of breath, as initial stop consonants or initial h-sounds.

Medicine/Medical. the substance or contents that have been aspirated.

adjective

Phonetics. (of a speech sound) pronounced with or accompanied by aspiration; aspirated.

Nearby words

aspic, aspidistra, aspinwall, aspirant, aspirata, aspirate, aspiration, aspiration biopsy, aspiration pneumonia, aspirational, aspirator

Origin of aspirate

1660–70; < Latin aspīrātus breathed upon (past participle of aspīrāre). See aspire, -ate¹

Related forms

non·as·pi·rate, noun, adjectivenon·as·pi·rat·ed, adjectivenon·as·pi·rat·ing, adjectiveun·as·pi·rat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aspirate

Some operate like bellows, creating an accordion-like sound as they aspirate.
How to Save Silent Movies: Inside New Jersey’s Cinema Paradiso|Rich Goldstein|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bottle propping and speed-feeding gruel causes them to choke and aspirate their food—sometimes causing pneumonia and death.
Russia’s Adoption Ban Is Cruel and Vindictive to All|Dr. Jane Aronson|December 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Proceeding as before, aspirate a volume of serum into the capillary stem up to the level of the pencil mark.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre
It was sometimes expressed without the aspirate, αμβη: hence the place of the oracle was styled Ambon, αμβων.
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume I.|Jacob Bryant

When five years old, this baby spoke with an Attic accent, and corrected his elders who dropped the aspirate.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13|Elbert Hubbard
Sometimes, in moments of flurry or excitement, an aspirate miscarried.
The Divine Fire|May Sinclair
The letter H was usually the point of attack, the aspirate being the simplest of all the powers of the letters.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, April, 1876.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for aspirate

aspirate

verb (ˈæspɪˌreɪt) (tr)

phonetics

to articulate (a stop) with some force, so that breath escapes with audible friction as the stop is released
to pronounce (a word or syllable) with an initial h

to draw in or remove by inhalation or suction, esp to suck (air or fluid) from a body cavity or to inhale (fluid) into the lungs after vomiting

to supply air to (an internal-combustion engine)

noun (ˈæspɪrɪt)

phonetics

a stop pronounced with an audible release of breath
the glottal fricative represented in English and several other languages as h

adjective (ˈæspɪrɪt)

phonetics (of a stop) pronounced with a forceful and audible expulsion of breath

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for aspirate

aspirate

[ ăs′pə-rāt′ ]

v.

To take in or remove by aspiration.

n.

A substance removed by aspiration.