Aerifier

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A machine intended for the purpose of puncturing soil, which enhances oxygen flow and increases hydration access for plants
2. An apparatus designed to make holes in the ground to allow better air and moisture circulation to plant roots
3. A tool used to create openings in soil, facilitating enhanced oxygen and water reach for vegetation

Etymology: The aerifier is a machine built to puncture lawns and soil so that air, water and nutrients can reach plant roots more easily. Its name is a simple piece of word-building: it is formed from "aerify," the verb meaning to aerate, with the agent suffix "-er" added to name the thing that does the job. Nothing about the word is hidden in its parts, which is why the name reads so plainly. The more unusual detail is that the word began as a trade name, a brand label attached to a specific product before it became a general term for the category. Many machines of this kind have since been sold under other names, but the word has stuck to the whole class of devices, much as some household brand names have become everyday nouns.

Synonyms: aerator