as·pi·rate • v. / ˈaspəˌrāt/ [tr.] 1. Phonet. pronounce (a sound) with an exhalation of breath. ∎  [intr.] pronounce the sound h at the beginning of a word.2. (usu. be aspirated) Med. draw (fluid) by suction from a vessel or cavity. ∎  draw fluid in such a way from (a vessel or cavity). ∎  breathe (something) in; inhale: some drowning victims don't aspirate any water.3. [usu. as adj.] (aspirated) provide (an internal combustion engine) with air: the superchargers produce twice the power of standard aspirated engines. See also normally aspirated.• n. / ˈasp(ə)rit/ 1. Phonet. an aspirated consonant. ∎  the sound h or a character used to represent this sound.2. Med. matter that has been drawn from the body by aspiration: gastric aspirate | esophageal aspirates. • adj. / ˈasp(ə)rit/ rare Phonet. (of a sound) pronounced with an exhalation of breath; aspirated.

ASPIRATE. A term in PHONETICS for the h-sound, as in hope. Aspiration is a delay in voicing: for example, the release of the voiceless stops /p, t, k/ is often followed by further voicelessness like a brief h-sound, as in tick /t^hɪk/. Such stops are not aspirated after an s-sound, as in stick /stɪk/. See AITCH, ARTICLE, H, HIBERNO-ENGLISH.