ventilate

[ven-tl-eyt]

verb (used with object)

ventilated, ventilating 

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)

ventilated, ventilating 

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)

Other Word Forms

• ventilable adjective
• overventilate verb (used with object)
• reventilate verb (used with object)
• self-ventilated adjective
• underventilate verb (used with object)
• underventilated adjective
• unventilated adjective
• well-ventilated 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

Dry clothes outdoors if you can, rather than using a tumble dryer, or hang clothes indoors but ventilate well or use a dehumidifier to avoid damp.

From BBC

After turning off the burners and opening windows to ventilate the apartment, the team contacted firefighters and stayed with the woman until they arrived.

From Los Angeles Times

They wore several layers of clothing and the tent was well ventilated so there was no condensation, he added.

From BBC

Zoo confirmed in a statement Wednesday morning that Billy and Tina arrived safely at the Tulsa Zoo after a 22-hour journey together by truck in separate ventilated containers.

From Los Angeles Times

Everyone will be thrilled to know that the van is solar-power ventilated so the dogs are in wonderful shape and not locked in a stuffy car.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• vent