aspirate
[verb as-puh-reyt; noun, adjective, as-per-it]
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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.
Origin of aspirate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for aspirates
Historical Examples of aspirates
He explained that all aspirates are dropped in modern Greek.
The Incomparable 29th and the "River Clyde"George Davidson
When excited Mrs. Marlings had some difficulty with her aspirates.
Adventures of BindleHerbert George Jenkins
In moments of rapid action the sergeant major evidently had difficulty with his aspirates.
The Sky Pilot in No Man's LandRalph Connor
He complained of the shut mouth, the claquement des dents, and the predominance of aspirates in our pronunciation.
The subvocals are sometimes called voice consonants and the aspirates breath consonants.
OrthographyElmer W. Cavins
aspirate
verb (ˈæspɪˌreɪt) (tr)
noun (ˈæspɪrɪt)
adjective (ˈæspɪrɪt)
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
aspirate
aspirate
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
aspirate
[ăs′pə-rāt′]
v.
n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.