[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/aspirate/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [A](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/a/) / aspirate

# aspirate

verb (aspirate, aspirates, aspirated, aspirating); noun (an aspirate, aspirates)

«aspirate» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (speech) To aspirate a sound is to say it with a puff of breath, like the «h» in «hat» or the «p» in «pin». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#m1)
2. (noun, phonetics) An aspirate is an «h» sound or a sound said with a puff of air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#m2)
3. (medicine) To aspirate something is to suck it out with a tube or needle, such as fluid from the body. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#m3)
4. (medicine) To aspirate food or liquid is to breathe it into the lungs by accident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#m4)

### In the lessons

Used in phonics and languages (dropping your aitches in some English accents, aspirated «p» in «pin» but not in «spin»; Mandarin pinyin «p» vs «b»), and in medicine and first aid.

### Examples

- In «pin», the «p» is aspirated; hold your hand in front of your mouth to feel the puff. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#x1)
- Some London speakers do not aspirate the «h» in «house». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#x2)
- In Mandarin, «p» is aspirated and «b» is not. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#x3)
- The doctor aspirated fluid from the swollen knee. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#x4)
- Babies can aspirate milk if they are fed lying flat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#x5)
- Old grammar books call «h» an aspirate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/#x6)

### Note

Verb: AS-pi-rate; noun: AS-pi-rut. Noun «aspiration» can mean this breathing sound, but more often means a hope or ambition. Related: «respirate», «inspire» (all from Latin «breathe»).

## In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it means the hard, breathy sound of the seven double letters, in contrast to the soft one.

**Interpretation.** The seven double letters are said to have two sounds, hard and soft, and the book links them to opposites such as life and death, or peace and war.

### Examples

- The two sounds of each letter are the hard and the soft—the aspirated and the softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/aspirate/#x1)
- The two sounds of each letter are the hard and the soft — the aspirated and the softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/aspirate/#x2)
- There were formed seven double letters, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Kaph, Pe, Resh, Tau, each has two voices, either aspirated or softened. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/aspirate/#x3)

### Note

Verb: AS-pi-rate; noun: AS-pi-rut. Noun «aspiration» can mean this breathing sound, but more often means a hope or ambition. Related: «respirate», «inspire» (all from Latin «breathe»).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «aspirate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aspirate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«aspirate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/aspirate.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «aspirate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/aspirate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«aspirate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/aspirate.html) on Mova free.