Main Entry:

ven·ti·late

Pronunciation:

\ˈven-tə-ˌlāt\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

ven·ti·lat·ed; ven·ti·lat·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, discussed, aired, from Late Latin ventilatus, past participle of ventilare, from Latin, to fan, winnow, from ventus wind — more at wind

Date:

15th century

1 a: to examine, discuss, or investigate freely and openly : expose <ventilating family quarrels in public> b: to make public : utter <ventilated their objections at length>2archaic : to free from chaff by winnowing3 a: to expose to air and especially to a current of fresh air for purifying, curing, or refreshing <ventilate stored grain> ; also : oxygenate, aerate <ventilate blood in the lungs> b: to subject the lungs to ventilation <artificially ventilate a patient in respiratory distress>4 aof a current of air : to pass or circulate through so as to freshen b: to cause fresh air to circulate through (as a room or mine)5: to provide an opening in (a burning structure) to permit escape of smoke and heat