Aspirating

Aspirating refers to the act of drawing in or sucking by suction, or, in a linguistic context, producing a sound with a noticeable breath of air. The term has specialized meanings in medicine, science, and phonetics, as well as more general uses related to suction or inhalation.

In medical and clinical settings, to aspirate means to draw fluid, air, or tissue into a syringe or suction device. Procedures include fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to collect cellular material from a lump or lesion, and percutaneous or thoracentesis aspirating fluid from a body cavity. Aspiration can be intentional for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, but it also carries risks, such as aspiration of oropharyngeal contents into the airway, which can lead to aspiration pneumonitis or pneumonia, particularly in patients with impaired swallowing or reduced consciousness.

In dentistry and nursing, aspiration is used to remove secretions, saliva, or small amounts of fluid during procedures. Proper technique and patient monitoring are important to avoid complications, including unintended tissue injury or infection.

In linguistics, aspirating describes the production of aspirated consonants—sounds released with a strong burst of breath after the onset of voiceless stops. Examples include the English p, t, and k in aspirated forms such as pʰ, tʰ, and kʰ. Aspiration is a phonetic feature that can distinguish words in many languages and is represented in phonemic notation and transcription.

Etymologically, aspirate comes from Latin aspirare, meaning to breathe on or to draw in. The term’s precise meaning depends on the disciplinary context.