ventilation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the movement of fresh air around a room or building to replace old air.
the process of replacing stale or noxious air with fresh air within an enclosed space.
Simple“The classroom has very poor ventilation because the windows are stuck shut.”
In context“Modern office buildings require sophisticated ventilation systems to maintain air quality and regulate temperature in windowless interior zones.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when discussing the general quality of air.
Synonymsairingaeration - 02 C1 Advanced
the physical act of breathing air in and out of your lungs.
the physiological process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.
Simple“The doctor checked the patient's ventilation to make sure they were breathing deeply enough.”
In context“During intense physical exercise, the rate of pulmonary ventilation increases significantly to meet the muscles' demand for oxygen.”
UsageIn medical contexts, this refers specifically to the movement of gas in and out of the lungs.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the use of a machine to help a person breathe when they cannot do it themselves.
the clinical provision of mechanical assistance to maintain or replace a patient's spontaneous breathing.
Simple“The patient was put on mechanical ventilation after the surgery.”
In context“The medical team monitored the settings on the ventilation unit to ensure the patient was receiving the correct volume of oxygen.”
UsageOften used as a shorthand for 'mechanical ventilation' in hospital settings.
Synonymslife support - 04 C2 Proficiency
the act of talking about a problem or idea openly so everyone knows about it.
the public exposure or open discussion of a topic, issue, or grievance.
Simple“The meeting allowed for a full ventilation of all the staff's complaints.”
In context“The committee felt that a public ventilation of the proposed changes was necessary before a final vote could be taken.”
Teacher's tipThis is a figurative use of the word; it implies 'airing out' ideas like one would air out a room.
SynonymsAntonyms
“With the house now air-tight, a ventilation system went in to ensure that the air inside the house was kept constantly fresh.”
“In practice, taking advantage of natural ventilation often comes down to letting cool air in at night and keeping hot air out during the day.”
Borrowed from Middle French ventilation, from Old French ventilacion, from Late Latin ventilatio, from Latin ventilo. Morphologically ventilate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.