WordGarden.ioaspirate
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈæs.pə.rɪt/adjective
US
- /ˈæspərˌeɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to draw fluid or tissue out by suction, especially in a medical procedure
to breathe food, liquid, or another substance into the airway or lungs
to pronounce a sound with an audible puff of breath
Noun
a fluid or tissue sample removed by suction for medical testing or treatment
a speech sound pronounced with an audible puff of breath, especially h or an aspirated consonant
Beyond the definition
To aspirate is a technical term deeply connected to breath and suction. In a medical context, it has two opposing meanings. It can refer to a doctor intentionally using a device to aspirate (withdraw) fluid from the body, such as draining a cyst. The withdrawn sample itself is also called an aspirate. However, it can also refer to the dangerous act of accidentally breathing food or liquid into the lungs—a choking hazard known as pulmonary aspiration.
In linguistics, to aspirate means to articulate a sound with a distinct puff of air. If you hold your hand before your mouth and say the word "top," the burst of air you feel on the "t" means you aspirated that sound.
The word "aspirate" is precise and physical, primarily used in healthcare and language studies. Its roots lie in the Latin aspirare (to breathe upon), but in modern English, it has diverged significantly from the related verb "aspire."
In medicine, "aspirate" serves as both a verb and a noun. As a procedure, a physician aspirates fluid from an abscess or a joint to remove excess fluid for testing or relief; the material removed is the aspirate. Conversely, it also describes a physiological accident: if a patient aspirates vomit or a foreign object, they have inhaled it into their windpipe or lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.
In the world of phonetics, to aspirate a consonant is to release it with an audible, "h"-like puff of breath. For example, the "p" in "pin" is aspirated (strong burst of air), while the "p" in "spin" is not.
It is crucial to distinguish this from the verb "aspire." While the noun aspiration can mean "ambition," you cannot use the verb aspirate to describe hopes or dreams. You aspire to a promotion; you aspirate fluid from a wound.
Examples
- 1
English pronunciation
In English, the p in pin is aspirated, but the p in spin usually isn't.
- 2
Learner pronunciation
Learners often forget to aspirate the t at the start of top.
- 3
Swallowing risk
Older patients may aspirate food or liquid if they have trouble swallowing.
- DomainIn medicine, aspirate food or liquid
breathe it into the lungs by accident
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- aspiratenounverb
Forms
- aspiratedpast tenseverbnoun
- aspirating-ing formverbnoun
- aspiratespluralnounverb