ventilate
- to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air in place of air that has been used or contaminated.
- Medicine/Medical.
- to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills.
- to assist the breathing of (a person), as with a respirator.
- (of air or wind) to circulate through or blow on, so as to cool or freshen the air of: Cool breezes ventilated the house.
- to expose to the action of air or wind: to ventilate floor timbers.
- to submit (a question, problem, etc.) to open, full examination and discussion.
- to give utterance or expression to (an opinion, complaint, etc.).
- to furnish with a vent or opening, as for the escape of air or gas.
- to give utterance or expression to one's emotions, opinions, complaints, etc.
Origin of ventilate
Synonyms for ventilate
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for ventilated
Contemporary Examples of ventilated
The feelings that John Derbyshire ventilated—where did they come from?
Historical Examples of ventilated
I am sorry you did not, for it would have brought to light some things which have not yet been ventilated.
Down SouthOliver Optic
The building is lighted, heated, and ventilated in the most modern fashion.
The New EducationScott Nearing
But does that go to show that a question should not be ventilated?
Orley FarmAnthony Trollope
The shack is ventilated by a chimney hole in the roof as shown by Fig. 146.
Shelters, Shacks and ShantiesD.C. Beard
I believe a house should be ventilated to the bottom instead of the top.
Samantha at Coney IslandMarietta Holley
ventilate
- to drive foul air out of (an enclosed area)
- to provide with a means of airing
- to expose (a question, grievance, etc) to public examination or discussion
- physiol to oxygenate (the blood) in the capillaries of the lungs
- to winnow (grain)
Word Origin for ventilate
Word Origin and History for ventilated
ventilate
mid-15c., "to blow away something" (of wind), from Latin ventilatus, past participle of ventilare "to brandish, toss in the air, winnow, fan, agitate, set in motion," from ventulus "a breeze," diminutive of ventus "wind" (see wind (n.1)). Original notion is of cleaning grain by tossing it in the air and letting the wind blow away the chaff. Meaning "supply a room with fresh air" first recorded 1660s (implied in ventilation). Slang sense of "shoot" (someone) is recorded from 1875. Related: Ventilated; ventilating.