aspirate
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for aspirate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To accidentally draw food, liquid or another foreign substance into the airway or lungs instead of swallowing it into the stomach.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to Use Aspirate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Mainly medical and phonetic. Note the stress difference: the verb ends in a full 'rate' sound, the noun does not.
Etymology
From Latin aspirare 'to breathe upon', from ad 'to' and spirare 'to breathe'.
Full origin of aspirate →Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when a patient aspirates?
It means something that should have gone down the oesophagus, such as food, drink or stomach contents, has entered the windpipe and lungs instead. It causes choking and coughing, and can lead to aspiration pneumonia if material stays in the lungs.
What is the difference between aspirate and aspire?
They share a Latin root about breathing but have separated completely. Aspire means to strive towards an ambition, while aspirate is a medical or phonetic verb about breath, fluid and suction.