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 Sifting will help remove any lumps from the flour and aerate the mixture, which will help make your cake light and fluffy. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2024 The insects are responsible for aerating and putting nutrients back into the soil, which is a critical process for agriculture and vegetation. Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024 The second important step to perfect brownies is aerating the eggs when adding them to the butter and sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Abigail Abesamis Demarest, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Wine enthusiasts will appreciate that the wine pourer helps aerate the wine and prevents spills and drips. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2024 Radiofrequency energy, which delivers heat deep into the tissue, is paired with microneedling, a process that involves creating tiny punctures in the surface of the skin (a lot like aerating the lawn). Ahmed Zambarakji, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2024 Designed to aerate and enhance the flavor profile of your wine, this device adds a touch of elegance to every pour. Priscilla Mak, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2023 The classic pairing has the lightest dressing imaginable, a feat made possible by passing tuna, anchovies, mayonnaise, capers and wine through a fine-mesh sieve to aerate the combination. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023 This manual aerator features two prongs that aerate by using your own weight through your foot. Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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

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