aerate

verb aer·ate \ ˈer-ˌāt \

Definition of aerate

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 2

b :to make light or sparkling

—

aeration

play \ˌa(-ə)r-ˈā-shən, ˌe(-ə)r-\ noun

See aerate defined for English-language learners

See aerate defined for kids

Examples of aerate in a Sentence

You should aerate the soil before planting the seeds.

Recent Examples of aerate from the Web

Waterfalls and bubble stones keep the fresh water aerated and cool.

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "Koi love watermelon? How these finned pets can hook people," 25 Aug. 2017
This is made by aerating sugars, compost and humic acids in non-chlorinated water and then spraying the brew on plants and soil.

— adrian higgins, idahostatesman, "The zoo beneath our feet: We’re only beginning to understand soil’s hidden world," 23 Aug. 2017
Families learned about the benefits of insects and their role in pollinating plants, aerating soil and connecting the food chain for humans, said Margaret Gazdacka, Red Oak Nature Center naturalist and facility manager.

— gloria casas, Aurora Beacon-News, "Bugfest gets families up close with insects," 19 Aug. 2017
Garden beds also can be aerated using a garden fork as described above.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "Will the recent flood damage your lawn and garden?," 12 Aug. 2017
Send tips, comments, and aerated Emmys gown suggestions to Rebecca_keegan@condenast.com.

— rebecca keegan, vanityfair.com, "How Game of Thrones Changed the Emmy Game," 4 Aug. 2017
Send tips, comments, and aerated Emmys gown suggestions to Rebecca_keegan@condenast.com.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "How Game of Thrones Changed the Emmy Game," 4 Aug. 2017
Allen paints in near-monochrome violet and gray, the pigment whisper-thin, the underlying linen weave aerating the surface with glimmers of white.

— leah ollman, latimes.com, "At Blum & Poe, a 'Cosmic Garden' of ghostly beauty," 14 July 2017
Its tunnels aerate the soil, and its castings nourish it.

— jo craven mcginty, WSJ, "The Dirty Little Secrets Behind Earthworms," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aerate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

First Known Use of aerate

1789

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

British Definition of AERATE

aerate

verb

British Definition of aerate

aerated; aerating

transitive verb

:carbonate 2

AERATE Defined for English Language Learners

aerate

verb

Definition of aerate for English Language Learners

: to put air or a gas into (something, such as soil or a liquid)

AERATE Defined for Kids

aerate

verb aer·ate \ ˈer-ˌāt \

Definition of aerate for Students

aerated; aerating

1 :to supply or cause to be filled with air

aerate the soil

2 :to supply (blood) with oxygen by breathing

—

aerator

\-ˌā-tər\ noun

Medical Dictionary

aerate

transitive verb aer·ate \ ˈa(-ə)r-ˌāt, ˈe(-ə)r- \

medical Definition of aerate

aerated; aerating

1 :to supply (the blood) with oxygen by respiration

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

3 British :carbonate 2

—

aeration

play \ˌa(-ə)r-ˈā-shən, ˌe(-ə)r-\ noun

Learn More about aerate

See words that rhyme with aerate Spanish Central: Translation of aerate Nglish: Translation of aerate for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up aerate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

aerate

Definition of aerate

aeration

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of aerate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of aerate from the Web

Did You Know?

First Known Use of aerate

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

British Definition of AERATE

aerate

British Definition of aerate

AERATE Defined for English Language Learners

aerate

Definition of aerate for English Language Learners

AERATE Defined for Kids

aerate

Definition of aerate for Students

aerator

Medical Dictionary

aerate

medical Definition of aerate

aeration

Learn More about aerate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066