aerate

verb

aer·​ate ˈer-ˌāt How to pronounce aerate (audio)
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 noun

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

You should aerate the soil before planting the seeds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although there are machines that can aerate your grass, this simple tool gets the job done for a much less expensive price of $32 at Amazon. Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024 Between raking leaves, aerating your lawn, adding grass seed, and more, fall is one of the busiest and most important seasons for maintaining your yard. Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024 Attract worms: Earthworms benefit a garden’s soil in numerous ways, including contributing nutrients, mixing/loosening the soil, and aerating it. Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024 Water the lawn well a day or two prior to aerating. Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aerate 

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aerate was in 1789

Dictionary Entries Near aerate

Cite this Entry

“Aerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerate. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

aerate

verb
aer·​ate ˈa(-ə)r-ˌāt How to pronounce aerate (audio)
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 noun
aerator
ˈa(-ə)r-ˌāt-ər
ˈe(-ə)r-
noun

Medical Definition

aerate

transitive verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on aerate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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