Aspirate Definition

ăspə-rāt
aspirated, aspirates, aspirating
verb
aspirated, aspirates, aspirating
To pronounce (a vowel or word) with the initial release of breath associated with English h, as in hurry.
American Heritage
To begin (a word) or precede (a sonorous speech sound) with a puff of breath resulting in the sound (h)
Webster's New World
To follow (a consonant, especially a stop consonant) with a puff of breath that is clearly audible before the next sound begins, as in English pit or kit.
American Heritage
To follow (a consonant, esp. a stop) with a puff of suddenly released breath.
In English we usually aspirate the sound represented by p, t, or k when it begins a word.
Webster's New World
To draw (something) into the lungs; inhale.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun
aspirates
The speech sound represented by English h.
American Heritage
The speech sound (h)
Webster's New World
The puff of air accompanying the release of a stop consonant.
American Heritage
An expiratory breath puff such as follows initial (p), (t), or (k) in English.
Webster's New World
A speech sound followed by a puff of breath.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
adjective
Articulated with a preceding or following puff of breath.
Webster's New World
Aspirated.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Aspirate

Noun

Singular:
aspirate
Plural:
aspirates

Origin of Aspirate

  • Latin aspīrāre aspīrāt- to breathe on ad- ad- spīrāre to breathe

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin aspīrātus, perfect passive participle of aspīrō (“breathe upon”).

    From Wiktionary

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