Aspirations

a strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition:
intellectual aspirations.
a goal or objective that is strongly desired:
The presidency has been his aspiration since boyhood.
the act of aspirating or breathing in.
Phonetics.

articulation accompanied by an audible puff of breath, as in the h -sound of how, or of when (hwen), or in the release of initial stops, as in the k -sound of key.
the use of such a speech sound, or , in pronunciation.

Medicine/Medical.

the act of removing a fluid, as pus or serum, from a cavity of the body, by a hollow needle or trocar connected with a suction syringe.
the act of inhaling fluid or a foreign body into the bronchi and lungs, often after vomiting.

Contemporary Examples

The United States of America will always stand up for these aspirations, for our own people, and all across the world.
Full Text of Obama’s Speech to the UN — Update: Video Added Justin Green September 24, 2012

Such a role would jibe with the aspirations of an ascendant Turkey, which is pushing for greater regional clout.
Turkey’s Man in Palestine Mike Giglio May 7, 2013

The governor believes that all the talk of his possible White House aspirations has only empowered his enemies.
Sanford’s ‘Secret-Agent Mission’ Will Cathcart September 6, 2009

Whether or not these acts were populist in their intent, their effects helped people achieve their aspirations.
Off the Rails: How the Party of Lincoln Became the Party of Plutocrats Joel Kotkin November 21, 2012

Her aspirations were noble: Inject high art into pop music and create a Koons-esque kaleidoscope of dance tracks.
The Biggest Surprises and Disappointments in 2013 Melissa Leon December 23, 2013

Historical Examples

His returning vigour was strangely pacific in its aspirations.
A Set of Six Joseph Conrad

Today, better than ever before, we know the aspirations of humankind, and share them.
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various

He felt an imaginative companionship with the aspirations of the Abbot.
Sinister Street, vol. 1 Compton Mackenzie

There is no short road to the realization of these aspirations.
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various

I am recommended to turn my aspirations to the abstract universal maid; but so far at least I cannot do it.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 (of 6) Havelock Ellis

noun
strong desire to achieve something, such as success
the aim of such desire

the act of breathing
a breath

(phonetics)

the pronunciation of a stop with an audible and forceful release of breath
the friction of the released breath
an aspirated consonant

removal of air or fluid from a body cavity by suction
(med)

the sucking of fluid or foreign matter into the air passages of the body
the removal of air or fluid from the body by suction

n.

1530s, “action of breathing into,” from Latin aspirationem (nominative aspiratio), noun of action from past participle stem of aspirare (see aspire). Meaning “steadfast longing for a higher goal, earnest desire for something above one” is recorded from c.1600 (sometimes collectively, as aspirations).

late 14c., “action of aspirating,” noun of action from aspirate (v.).

aspiration as·pi·ra·tion (ās’pə-rā’shən)
n.

The removal of a gas or fluid by suction.

The sucking of fluid or a foreign body into the airway when drawing breath.

A surgical technique used in the treatment of cataracts of the eye, in which an incision is made into the cornea, the lens capsule is severed, and the material of the lens is fragmented and aspirated by a needle.