əˈspī(ə)r, -īə also aˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English aspiren, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French aspirer, from Latin aspirare, adspirare, literally, to breathe upon, from ad- + spirare to breathe — more at spirit
intransitive verb
1. : to be ambitious : yearn , long : seek to attain or accomplish something, especially something high or great — used often with to or after
souls will still live and will aspire — W.L.Sullivan
Romans who aspired to philosophy — Benjamin Farrington
self-realization to which they aspired — G.L. Dickinson
the perfect lyrist should aspire , if not to epics, at least to odes — Herbert Read
dictatorships that aspire to control the economy — Peter Wiles
2. : rise , ascend , tower , soar
a tall thin flame that aspired — J.B.Cabell
here still an aged elm aspires — Philip Freneau
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to mount to : attain
our souls aspire celestial thrones — Christopher Marlowe
2. archaic : to long for