ventilation

UK: /ˌvɛntɪˈleɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌvɛntəˈleɪʃən/ ,(ven′tl ā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ven•ti•la•tion  (ven′tl ā′shən), n. 

1. the act of ventilating.
2. the state of being ventilated.
3. Building facilities or equipment for providing ventilation.

• Latin ventilātiōn- (stem of ventilātiō), equivalent. to ventilāt(us) (see ventilate) + -iōn- -ion
• 1425–75; late Middle English ventilacioun

ven•ti•la•to•ry  (ven′tl ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ventilation / ˌvɛntɪˈleɪʃən/ noun

1. the act or process of ventilating or the state of being ventilated
2. an installation in a building that provides a supply of fresh air

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ven•ti•late /ˈvɛntəˌleɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air.
2. to express or give expression to so as to enable open, full examination and discussion:
   to ventilate the issue before a committee.

ven•ti•la•tion /ˌvɛntəˈleɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
ven•ti•la•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ven•ti•late  (ven′tl āt′), v.t., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air in place of air that has been used or contaminated.
2. Medicine
   • to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills.
   • to assist the breathing of (a person), as with a respirator.
3. (of air or wind) to circulate through or blow on, so as to cool or freshen the air of:
   Cool breezes ventilated the house.
4. to expose to the action of air or wind:
   to ventilate floor timbers.
5. to submit (a question, problem, etc.) to open, full examination and discussion.
6. to give utterance or expression to (an opinion, complaint, etc.).
7. Building to furnish with a vent or opening, as for the escape of air or gas.

v.i. 

8. to give utterance or expression to one's emotions, opinions, complaints, etc.

• Latin ventilātus (past participle of ventilāre to fan), equivalent. to vent(us) wind¹ + -il- verb, verbal suffix (variant of -ul-, origin, originally after derivs. of nouns ending in -ulus -ule; compare speculate) + -ātus -ate¹
• late Middle English ventilatten to blow (something) away 1400–50

ven′ti•la•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 5. broadcast, publicize, circulate, report.