exhaust

[ ig-zawst ]
See synonyms for: exhaustexhaustedexhaustingexhaustible on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to drain of strength or energy, wear out, or fatigue greatly, as a person: I have exhausted myself working.

  2. to use up or consume completely; expend the whole of: He exhausted a fortune in stock-market speculation.

  1. to draw out all that is essential in (a subject, topic, etc.); treat or study thoroughly.

  2. to empty by drawing out the contents: to exhaust a tank of fuel oil.

  3. to create a vacuum in.

  4. to draw out or drain off completely.

  5. to deprive wholly of useful or essential properties, possessions, resources, etc.

  6. Chemistry, Pharmacology. to deprive of ingredients by the use of solvents, as a drug.

  7. to destroy the fertility of (soil), as by intensive cultivation.

verb (used without object)
  1. to pass out or escape, as spent steam from the cylinder of an engine.

nounMachinery.
  1. the escape of steam or gases from the cylinder of an engine.

  2. the steam or gases ejected.

  1. Also called exhaust system. the parts of an engine through which the exhaust is ejected.

Origin of exhaust

1
1515–25; 1895–1900 for def. 11; <Latin exhaustus emptied out, drained out, past participle of exhaurīre

Other words for exhaust

Opposites for exhaust

Other words from exhaust

  • ex·haust·er, noun
  • ex·haust·i·ble, adjective
  • ex·haust·i·bil·i·ty, noun
  • mul·ti·ex·haust, noun
  • non·ex·haust·ed, adjective
  • non·ex·haust·i·ble, adjective
  • pre·ex·haust, verb (used with object)
  • un·ex·haust·ed, adjective
  • un·ex·haust·ed·ly, adverb

Words Nearby exhaust

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use exhaust in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exhaust

exhaust

/ (ɪɡˈzɔːst) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. to drain the energy of; tire out: to exhaust someone by constant questioning

  2. to deprive of resources, etc: a nation exhausted by war

  1. to deplete totally; expend; consume: to exhaust food supplies

  2. to empty (a container) by drawing off or pumping out (the contents)

  3. to develop or discuss thoroughly so that no further interest remains: to exhaust a topic of conversation

  4. to remove gas from (a vessel, etc) in order to reduce the pressure or create a vacuum; evacuate

  5. to remove or use up the active ingredients from (a drug, solution, etc)

  6. to destroy the fertility of (soil) by excessive cultivation

  7. (intr) (of steam or other gases) to be emitted or to escape from an engine after being expanded

noun
  1. gases ejected from an engine as waste products

    • the expulsion of expanded gas or steam from an engine

    • (as modifier): exhaust stroke

    • the parts of an engine through which the exhausted gases or steam pass

    • (as modifier): exhaust valve; exhaust pipe

Origin of exhaust

1
C16: from Latin exhaustus made empty, from exhaurīre to draw out, from haurīre to draw, drain

Derived forms of exhaust

  • exhausted, adjective
  • exhauster, noun
  • exhaustible, adjective
  • exhaustibility, noun
  • exhausting, adjective

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