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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.
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  1. to remove (a fluid) from a body cavity by use of an aspirator or suction syringe.
  2. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aspirate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aspirate

aspirate

verb (ˈæspɪˌreɪt) (tr)
phonetics
  1. to articulate (a stop) with some force, so that breath escapes with audible friction as the stop is released
  2. 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
  1. a stop pronounced with an audible release of breath
  2. 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
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