ventilate

American  

[ven-tl-eyt] / ˈvɛn tlˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

ventilated, ventilating

1. to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air in place of air that has been used or contaminated.

2. Medicine/Medical.

   1. to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills.

   2. to assist the breathing of (a person), as with a respirator.

3. (of air or wind) to circulate through or blow on, so as to cool or freshen the air of.

   Cool breezes ventilated the house.

4. to expose to the action of air or wind.

   to ventilate floor timbers.

5. to submit (a question, problem, etc.) to open, full examination and discussion.

   Synonyms:

   report, circulate, publicize, broadcast

6. to give utterance or expression to (an opinion, complaint, etc.).

7. to furnish with a vent or opening, as for the escape of air or gas.

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verb (used without object)

ventilated, ventilating

1. to give utterance or expression to one's emotions, opinions, complaints, etc.

ventilate British  

/ ˈvɛntɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to drive foul air out of (an enclosed area)

2. to provide with a means of airing

3. to expose (a question, grievance, etc) to public examination or discussion

4. physiol to oxygenate (the blood) in the capillaries of the lungs

5. to winnow (grain)

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Other Word Forms

• overventilate
  verb (used with object)
• reventilate
  verb (used with object)
• self-ventilated
  adjective
• underventilate
  verb (used with object)
• underventilated
  adjective
• unventilated
  adjective
• ventilable
  adjective
• well-ventilated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ventilate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ventilatten “to blow (something) away,” from Latin ventilātus (past participle of ventilāre “to fan”), equivalent to vent(us) “wind” + -il- verb suffix (variant of -ul-, originally after derivatives of nouns ending in -ulus ) + -ātus suffix forming adjectives; see origin at -ule, -ate ¹; cf. speculate, wind ¹

Explanation

To ventilate is to let something flow freely, whether it's air or ideas. It's especially important to ventilate your art studio if you're using spray paint. When a doctor uses the word ventilate, she's usually talking specifically about air moving through a patient's lungs: "We need to artificially ventilate him until his airway is clear." Otherwise, when we ventilate something, we're almost always trying to get more clean or cool air flowing in and moving around: "You need to ventilate this room better before you set up your screen printing business here." The root of ventilate means "blowing."

Example Sentences

Ventilate on the sheltered side of the house.

From General Science by Clark, Bertha M.

Ventilate all glass houses much less, especially during fogs.

From Small Gardens and How to Make the Most of Them by Biddle, Violet Purton

Counsellor Ventilate and the law: Raptures excited by the panegyric of Blackstone: Dialogues legal and political, with characteristic traits Meantime the appointed interview between me and Counsellor Ventilate took place.

From The Adventures of Hugh Trevor by Holcroft, Thomas

Ventilate the churn freely and frequently during churning, until no air rushes out when the vent is opened.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various

Ventilate more than most families do; take part only of the cool air, and only in part of the coldest weather, from the cellar, which at such times is opened into the main entries.

From Scientific American, Volume 40, No. 13, March 29, 1879 A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures by Various

Related Words

• vent