ventilate

[ ven-tl-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ven·ti·lat·ed, ven·ti·lat·ing.

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.

verb (used without object)

, ven·ti·lat·ed, ven·ti·lat·ing.

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

ventilate

/ 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)

Derived Forms

• ˈventilable, adjective

Other Words From

• venti·la·ble adjective
• over·venti·late verb (used with object) overventilated overventilating
• re·venti·late verb (used with object) reventilated reventilating
• self-venti·lated adjective
• under·venti·late verb (used with object) underventilated underventilating
• under·venti·lated adjective
• un·venti·lated adjective
• well-venti·lated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventilate¹

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; -ule, -ate ¹; speculate, wind ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventilate¹

C15: from Latin ventilāre to fan, from ventulus diminutive of ventus wind

Example Sentences

“The attorney will give us sufficient time, I’m quite sure, to ventilate all of the issues that under the Extradition Act are not capable of being run in an Australian court,” Duggan’s lawyer, Bernard Collaery, told reporters outside court.

From Seattle Times

She says it remains important to ventilate and heat your home alongside using a dehumidifier.

From BBC

These products fail faster in a fire, putting fire responders in grave danger when they’re inside a house working or trying to ventilate a roof.

From Seattle Times

Organizers should also find ways to ventilate the event space, including, potentially, by reducing seat capacity.

From Salon

While triple glazing could well become standard in the future, he adds that people must also properly ventilate their homes, to reduce condensation and damp, especially when retrofitting or sealing up older properties.

From BBC

Related Words

• vent