ventilation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a mechanical system in a building that provides fresh air

   They were continually adjusting the ventilation.

2. 2
   noun

   The replacement of stale or noxious air with fresh.

   So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline?

3. 3
   noun

   The public exposure of an issue or topic.

   "No, Mr. Malone, I will place no restriction upon your correspondence, since the ventilation of the facts is the object of your journey; but I demand that you shall give no particulars as to your exact destination, and that nothing be actually published until your return."

4. 4
   noun

   The bodily process of breathing; the inhalation of air to provide oxygen, and the exhalation of spent air to remove carbon dioxide.

   This toxin impairs ventilation by causing inflammation in the bronchioles.

5. 5
   noun

   Ellipsis of mechanical ventilation.

   It is time to try to wean this patient from ventilation.

6. 6
   noun

   the act of supplying fresh air and getting rid of foul air

7. 7
   noun

   the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation

8. 8
   noun

   free and open discussion of (or debate on) some question of public interest

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French ventilation, from Old French ventilacion, from Late Latin ventilatio, from Latin ventilo. Morphologically ventilate + -ion.