insufflate

• Verbe souvent technique ou littéraire signifiant insuffler, c'est-à-dire souffler ou introduire un gaz, une poudre ou un fluide dans une cavité, notamment en médecine ou dans un rite religieux (ex. insufflation pulmonaire ou souffle rituel).

An obsolete verb meaning to blow or breathe into, especially in a medical or religious context (e.g., insufflation of a powder into a body cavity or ritual breathing).

1. C2formal

   To breathe or blow onto someone or something as a ritual or sacramental act, especially to symbolize the action of the Holy Spirit.

   Insufflation rituelle ou sacramentelle

   • The priest insufflated the baptismal water during the ceremony.
   • In some traditions, the clergy insufflate the consecrated elements.
   • The ritual involved insufflating the candidate with a gentle breath.

2. Medical treatmentC2formalmedical

   To treat a patient by blowing a powder, vapor, or gas into a bodily cavity, such as the lungs or nasal passages.

   insuffler un traitement par voie respiratoire

   • The doctor insufflated the medication directly into the patient's lungs.
   • Insufflating a fine powder is a common method for delivering certain drugs.
   • The procedure involves insufflating the nasal cavity with a saline solution.

3. Forceful blowingC2formal

   To blow or breathe hard onto or into something.

   Insuffler avec force

   • He insufflated the dust from the ancient artifact to clean it.
   • The wind insufflated the leaves across the courtyard.
   • She insufflated the candle flame to extinguish it.

   Synonymesblastblowpuff