aspiration. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

aspiration

SYLLABICATION:	as·pi·ra·tion
PRONUNCIATION:	sp-rshn
NOUN:	1. Expulsion of breath in speech. 2. Linguistics a. The pronunciation of a consonant with an aspirate. b. A speech sound produced with an aspirate. 3. The act of breathing in; inhalation. 4. Medicine The process of removing fluids or gases from the body with a suction device. 5a. A strong desire for high achievement. b. An object of such desire; an ambition.


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.