aspiration

[as-puh-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. a strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition.

   intellectual aspirations.

   Synonyms: craving, yearning

2. a goal or objective that is strongly desired.

   The presidency has been his aspiration since boyhood.

3. the act of aspirating or breathing in.

4. Phonetics.

   1. articulation accompanied by an audible puff of breath, as in the h -sound of how, or of when (hwen), or in the release of initial stops, as in the k -sound of key.

   2. the use of such a speech sound, or aspirate, in pronunciation.

5. Medicine/Medical.

   1. the act of removing a fluid, as pus or serum, from a cavity of the body, by a hollow needle or trocar connected with a suction syringe.

   2. the act of inhaling fluid or a foreign body into the bronchi and lungs, often after vomiting.

aspiration

/ -trɪ, ˈæspɪrətərɪ, -trɪ, ˌæspɪˈreɪʃən, əˈspaɪrətərɪ /

noun

1. strong desire to achieve something, such as success

2. the aim of such desire

3. 1. the act of breathing

   2. a breath

4. phonetics

   1. the pronunciation of a stop with an audible and forceful release of breath

   2. the friction of the released breath

   3. an aspirated consonant

5. removal of air or fluid from a body cavity by suction

6. med

   1. the sucking of fluid or foreign matter into the air passages of the body

   2. the removal of air or fluid from the body by suction

Other Word Forms

• aspirational adjective
• aspiratory adjective
• superaspiration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspiration¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin aspīrātiōn-, stem of aspīrātiō “a breathing upon”; aspirate, -ion

Example Sentences

"I encourage the parties involved to courageously continue on the path towards a just and lasting peace that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples", he said.

Read more on Barron's

But the Republican billionaire president has broader aspirations -- to revive the Abraham Accords reached during his first White House term, under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco offered Israel diplomatic recognition.

Read more on Barron's

His aspiration was not of the clout-chasing, fame-hungry sort, but a drive to be understood, to have his culture recognized, to break free of stereotype and assert one’s being by being perceived.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The implied message may as well be a reveille blare: Nothing so minor should get in the way of anyone’s aspirations to serve their country.

Read more on Salon

The phrase “play harder,” Mr. Early writes, “was an expression of aspiration, determination, willpower, and courage.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aim 
• ambition 
• desire 
• dream 
• eagerness 
• endeavor 
• inclination 
• longing 
• objective 
• passion 
• wish 
• yearning