aspirate

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

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

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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.

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Origin of aspirate

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin aspīrātus “breathed upon” (past participle of aspīrāre ); see origin at aspire, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM aspirate

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aspirate

aspirant, aspirate , aspirin

Words nearby aspirate

aspic, aspidistra, Aspinwall, aspirant, aspirata, aspirate, aspiration, aspirational, aspirator, aspiratory, aspire

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aspirate in a sentence

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
It may be preceded by the aspirate h, or by some consonant, as may be thought necessary.
The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886|Ministry of Education
Penty Hook is the common pronunciation, and if without the aspirate, so much the nearer local correctness.
Rivers of Great Britain. The Thames, from Source to Sea.|Anonymous

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
Take another similarly prepared pipette and aspirate into it equal volumes of washed cells, bacterial emulsion and pooled serum.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre
In emptying itself the aspirator bottle will aspirate 10 litres of air slowly through the water in the Erlenmeyer flask.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre

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