As"pic, n. [F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. épi), L. spica (spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See Spike.] A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which produces a volatile oil. See Spike.
As"pic, n. [F., prob. fr. aspic an asp.] A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish, hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.
||As`pi*do*bran"chi*a (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, shield + &?; gills.] (Zoöl.) A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the abalone shells and keyhole limpets.
As*pir"ant (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See Aspire.] Aspiring.
As*pir"ant, n. [Cf. F. aspirant.] One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or object of attainment.
In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness was left clear to a new set of aspirants.
Macaulay.
As"pi*rate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspirated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Aspirating (&?;).] [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf. Aspire.] To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as, we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a liquid consonant.
As"pi*rate (&?;), n. 1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound; an aspirated sound.
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2. A mark of aspiration () used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing. Bentley.
3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc.
{ As"pi*rate (s"p*rt), As"pi*ra"ted (-r"td), } a. [L. aspiratus, p. p.] Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath.
But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h.
Holder.
As`pi*ra"tion (&?;), n. [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F. aspiration.] 1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound.
If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing.
Wilkins.