aspirating

transitive verb aspirated, aspirating

1. to begin (a word) or precede (a sonorous speech sound) with a puff of breath resulting in the sound (h)
2. 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
3. to suck in or draw in, as by inhaling: aspirating dust into the lungs
4. Med. to remove (fluid or gas), as from a body cavity, by suction

Origin: < L aspiratus, pp. of aspirare: see aspire

noun

1. the speech sound (h)
2. an expiratory breath puff such as follows initial (p), (t), or (k) in English
3. a consonant articulated with a following puff of breath

adjective