1803 W. Nicol Pract. Planter (ed. 2) Index Aerating of land, its utility.

1859 J. M. Wilson Earth, Sea, & Sky v. 107 And the inducing of it [sc. carbonic acid] in large quantity into mixture with water for a pleasant beverage, is what is called the aerating of water.

1860 All Year Round No. 45. 443 The rapidity of the new aërating process.

1889 Jrnl. Mycol. 5 110 Drainage, thorough loosening and aerating of the soil, earth mixture by carting on sand, contingently also the addition of gypsum.

1946 Ecology 27 26/2 Intermittent rainfall and fine weather cause the water table to fluctuate, which results in an alternate smothering and aerating of the roots.

1993 Water Quality (B.S.I.) §1. 32/1 Ammonia stripping, a method of removing ammoniacal compounds from water by making it alkaline, and aerating.

2006 Observer Mag. 17 Sept. 34 (advt.) This versatile tool makes light work of tough lawn and garden tasks like de-thatching, aerating and edging.

1799 Jrnl. Nat. Philos. Dec. 426 I then poured it into an aerating apparatus.

1870 G. Rolleston Forms Animal Life 60 The principal aerating organ, the gills.

1908 Geogr. Jrnl. 31 144 We may therefore suppose that the colouring agent is partly eliminated by the swift current and aerating rapids of the gorge.

1972 N. H. Cohen in S. F. Chyet Lives & Voices 97 Tanks with an..aerating device which would keep the fish alive for several days.

1997 Bakers' Rev. Sept. 60/1 A..relaunched branded range of traditional mixes such as baking and aerating powders, custards, Yorkshire puddings and savoury mixes.