aspirate - Dictionary definition and pronunciation - Yahoo! Education

Definition of aspirate

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as·pi·rate  audio  (sp-rt) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
as·pi·rat·ed, as·pi·rat·ing, as·pi·rates
  1. Linguistics
    1. To pronounce (a vowel or word) with the initial release of breath associated with English h, as in hurry.
    2. 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.
  2. To draw (something) into the lungs; inhale.
  3. Medicine To remove (liquids or gases) by means of a suction device.
NOUN:
(-pr-t)
  1. Linguistics
    1. The speech sound represented by English h.
    2. The puff of air accompanying the release of a stop consonant.
    3. A speech sound followed by a puff of breath.
  2. Medicine Matter removed by aspiration.
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin asprre, asprt-, to breathe on : ad-, ad- + sprre, to breathe


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