verb
deflate
dih-FLAYT/dɪˈfleɪt/
To release air from something inflated.
The balloon deflates as air escapes through its neck.
Etymology
The blowing element comes from inflate, with de- giving the sense of bringing something puffed up down. Letting air out supplies the image for reducing confidence: assurance subsides as a balloon does.
In context
Now you can see that the balloon stays inflated. Let's put it into the pan with the ice water now. And now you can see that the balloon begins to deflate.
More examples
- Please deflate the air mattress before packing it away.
- A slow leak deflated the bicycle tire overnight.
- We are deflating the pool floats for winter storage.
Forms
deflate · deflates · deflated · deflating
deflation noun — The release of air from something inflated.
Similar words
- depressurize
- Means reducing internal pressure, even in a rigid container.
- flatten
- Means making something flat, not necessarily by releasing air.