ventilate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen
    vent; air out; air.
    • air the old winter clothes
    • air out the smoke-filled rooms
  2. verb expose to the circulation of fresh air so as to retard spoilage
    • Wheat should be well ventilated
  3. verb circulate through and freshen
    • The gust of air ventilated the room
  4. verb give expression or utterance to
    vent; give vent.
    • She vented her anger
    • The graduates gave vent to cheers
  5. verb furnish with an opening to allow air to circulate or gas to escape
    • The architect did not think about ventilating the storage space

WordNet

Ven"ti*late transitive verb
Etymology
L. ventilatus, p. p. of ventilare to toss, brandish in the air, to fan, to winnow, from ventus wind; akin to E. wind. See Wind rushing air.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Ventilated ; present participle & verbal noun Ventilating
Definitions
  1. To open and expose to the free passage of air; to supply with fresh air, and remove impure air from; to air; as, to ventilate a room; to ventilate a cellar; to ventilate a mine.
  2. To provide with a vent, or escape, for air, gas, etc.; as, to ventilate a mold, or a water-wheel bucket.
  3. To change or renew, as the air of a room. Harvey.
  4. To winnow; to fan; as, to ventilate wheat.
  5. To sift and examine; to bring out, and subject to penetrating scrutiny; to expose to examination and discussion; as, to ventilate questions of policy. Ayliffe.
  6. To give vent; to utter; to make public.
    Macaulay took occasion to ventilate one of those starling, but not very profound, paradoxes. J. C. Shairp.

Webster 1913