[ven.ti.late] vt -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [LL ventilatus, pp. of ventilare, fr. L, to fan, winnow, fr. ventus wind--more at wind] (1527) 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 esp. to a current of fresh air for purifying, curing, or refreshing "~ stored grain"; also: oxygenate, aerate "~ blood in the lungs" b: to subject the lungs to ventilation "artificially ~ 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