v.
Pronunciation: ' ven-t ə - ˌ l ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -lat · ed ; -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