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>
2 archaic : to free from chaff by winnowing
3 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 a of 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