Definition

1. Noun:

   • A speech sound: In phonetics, an "aspirate" is a consonant sound, such as the English /p/, /t/, or /k/, that is pronounced with a noticeable, audible puff of breath (aspiration) following its release, especially at the beginning of a stressed syllable.

2. Verb:

   • To pronounce with a breath: To pronounce a consonant, particularly a stop consonant like /p/, /t/, or /k/, with an accompanying strong puff of air.
   • To draw in or out by suction: To remove a gas or liquid from a body cavity by suction.
   • To inhale (something) into the lungs: To breathe in a foreign substance, such as food, liquid, or vomit.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The /p/ in "pin" is an aspirate, while the /p/ in "spin" is not.
  • Linguists study the difference between aspirates and their unaspirated counterparts.

• Verb (Pronunciation):

  • In English, you should aspirate the /t/ sound at the start of the word "top".
  • Many languages, like Hindi, have distinct letters for aspirated and unaspirated consonants.

• Verb (Medical/Suction):

  • The doctor used a syringe to aspirate the fluid from the cyst.
  • During surgery, it is crucial to aspirate blood from the operative site.

• Verb (Inhaling a substance):

  • Patients under sedation are at risk of aspirating stomach contents.
  • The choking victim aspirated a piece of food.

Advanced Usage

• Phonetic Detail: In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), aspiration is denoted by a superscript "h" (e.g., [pʰ], [tʰ], [kʰ]).
• Linguistic Context: Aspiration is a phonetic feature that can change the meaning of a word in some languages (a phonemic distinction), while in others, like English, it is a predictable, allophonic variation.

Variants and Related Words

• Aspiration (n): 1. The phonetic act of pronouncing a sound with a puff of breath. 2. A strong desire or ambition. 3. The medical act of drawing fluid by suction.
  • The aspiration of the /k/ sound is very clear.
  • She has high aspirations for her career.
• Aspirated (adj): Describing a sound pronounced with aspiration.
  • The aspirated [pʰ] sound is common in English.
• Unaspirated (adj): Describing a sound pronounced without a strong puff of breath.
  • The /p/ in "spot" is unaspirated.

Synonyms

• (Verb - Pronounce): Pronounce with breath, puff.
• (Verb - Suction): Draw out, suction, extract, remove by suction.
• (Verb - Inhale): Breathe in, inhale, suck in.

Related Phrases

• Aspirate pneumonia: A type of lung inflammation caused by inhaling foreign material.
  • Elderly patients are monitored to prevent aspirate pneumonia.

Noun

1. a consonant pronounced with aspiration

Verb

1. suck in (air)
2. pronounce with aspiration; of stop sounds
3. remove as if by suction
   • aspirate the wound