aerate

1 of 2

verb

aer·​ate ˈer-ˌāt 

aerated; aerating

transitive verb

1

: to supply or impregnate (something, such as the soil or a liquid) with air

2

: to supply (the blood) with oxygen by respiration

3

a

British : carbonate sense 2

b

: to make light or sparkling

aeration

ˌer-ˈā-shən 

noun

aeration

2 of 2

noun

aer·​a·​tion ˌer-ˈā-shən 

plural -s

1

: the act or process of aerating or the state of being aerated : exposure to air

2

: the process of discharging hot milk or cream through one or more vacuum chambers of a vacuum pasteurizer for elimination of undesirable flavors followed by passage over a surface cooler

Did you know?

Faucet aerators and aerating showerheads can be easily installed by homeowners to cut water (and especially hot water) use by as much as 50%. A lawn aerator removes little plugs of soil in order to let air deep into the soil, greatly improving the quality of soil that may have gotten too compacted. And a pond aerator, such as a fountain, is a necessity for an ornamental pond with no stream feeding it, since oxygen in the water is necessary to prevent the growth of algae and allow fish to live.

Examples of aerate in a Sentence

Verb

You should aerate the soil before planting the seeds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Its porous nature gives it the ability to aerate the soil for better drainage, so the dirt doesn’t clump together and plant roots have room to expand and don’t stay wet for prolonged periods. —Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 6 June 2026

Ants can benefit gardens by reducing pests, aerating soil, and pollinating plants, but problematic species may require control. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026

Aerate the Soil and Add Top Soil Another way to encourage healthy soil is to aerate it. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 30 May 2026

Their colonies help aerate the soil and improve water filtration and the ants themselves serve as food for other species. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from New Latin āerātus, past participle of āerārī "to combine with carbonic acid," derivative of Latin āer air entry 1

Noun

aer(ate) + -ation

First Known Use

Verb

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

aerate

verb

aer·​ate ˈa(-ə)r-ˌāt 

ˈe(-ə)r-

aerated; aerating

1

: to expose to or supply or fill to the limit with air

aerate the soil

2

: to supply (blood) with oxygen by respiration

3

: to combine or fill with gas

aeration

ˌa(-ə)r-ˈā-shən 

ˌe(-ə)r-

noun

aerator

ˈa(-ə)r-ˌāt-ər, 

ˈe(-ə)r-

noun

Medical Definition

aerate

transitive verb

aer·​ate ˈa(-ə)r-ˌāt, ˈe(-ə)r- 

aerated; aerating

1

: to supply (the blood) with oxygen by respiration

2

: to supply or impregnate (as a liquid) with air

3

British : carbonate sense 2

aeration

ˌa(-ə)r-ˈā-shən, ˌe(-ə)r- 

noun