air

¹

[air]

noun

1. a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere.

2. a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze.

3. overhead space; sky.

   The planes filled the air.

4. circulation; publication; publicity.

   to give air to one's theories.

5. the general character or complexion of anything; appearance.

   His early work had an air of freshness and originality.

   Synonyms: aspect

6. the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person.

   There is an air of mystery about him.

   Synonyms: attitude, demeanor, aura, aspect

7. airs, affected or unnatural manner; manifestation of pride or vanity; assumed haughtiness.

   He acquired airs that were insufferable to his friends.

8. Music.

   1. a tune; melody.

   2. the soprano or treble part.

   3. an aria.

   4. Also ayre an Elizabethan art song.

9. aircraft as a means of transportation: to ship goods by air.

   to arrive by air;

   to ship goods by air.

10. Informal.,  air conditioning or an air-conditioning system.

    The price includes tires, radio, and air.

11. Sports.

    1. (during an airborne stunt) the height between the ground and an athlete or an athlete with their equipment.

       The BMX course was designed for riders to get good air.

    2. such a jump or other airborne stunt.

       The snowboarder took first place with four clean airs.

12. Radio.,  the medium through which radio waves are transmitted.

13. Archaic.,  breath.

verb (used with object)

1. to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often followed byout ).

   We air the bedrooms every day.

2. to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display.

   to air one's opinions;

   to air one's theories.

3. to broadcast or televise.

verb (used without object)

1. to be exposed to the open air (often followed byout ).

   Open the window and let the room air out.

2. to be broadcast or televised.

adjective

1. operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air.

   an air drill;

   an air pump.

2. of or relating to aircraft or to aviation.

   air industry.

3. taking place in the air; aerial.

   air war.

air

²

[air]

adjective

1. early.

adverb

1. Obsolete.,  before; previously.

Aïr

³

[ah-eer]

noun

1. a region in northern Niger, in the Sahara: low massif and oases. About 30,000 sq. mi. (77,700 sq. km).

air

¹

/ ɛə /

noun

1. the mixture of gases that forms the earth's atmosphere. At sea level dry air has a density of 1.226 kilograms per cubic metre and consists of 78.08 per cent nitrogen, 20.95 per cent oxygen, 0.93 per cent argon, 0.03 per cent carbon dioxide, with smaller quantities of ozone and inert gases; water vapour varies between 0 and 4 per cent and in industrial areas sulphur gases may be present as pollutants

2. the space above and around the earth; sky

3. breeze; slight wind

4. public expression; utterance

   to give air to one's complaints

5. a distinctive quality

   an air of mystery

6. a person's distinctive appearance, manner, or bearing

7. music

   1. a simple tune for either vocal or instrumental performance

   2. another word for aria

8. transportation in aircraft (esp in the phrase by air )

9. an archaic word for breath breath breath

10. informal,  the height gained when getting airborne in surfing, snowboarding, etc

11. to rid a situation of tension or discord by settling misunderstandings, etc

12. slang,  to reject or dismiss someone

13. 1. in circulation; current

    2. in the process of being decided; unsettled

14. leaving no trace behind

15. not in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television

16. in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television

17. suddenly and unexpectedly

18. to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride

19. 1. uncertain

    2. informal,  agitated or excited

20. to feel elated or exhilarated

21. (modifier) astrology of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius Compare earth fire water

verb

1. to expose or be exposed to the air so as to cool or freshen; ventilate

   to air a room

2. to expose or be exposed to warm or heated air so as to dry

   to air linen

3. (tr) to make known publicly; display; publicize

   to air one's opinions

4. (intr) (of a television or radio programme) to be broadcast

Aïr

²

/ ˈɑːɪə /

noun

1. Also called: Azbine.  Asben. a mountainous region of N central Niger, in the Sahara, rising to 1500 m (5000 ft): a former native kingdom. Area: about 77 700 sq km (30 000 sq miles)

AIR

³

abbreviation

1. All India Radio

air

1. The colorless, odorless, tasteless mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. Air consists of about 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, with the remaining part made up mainly of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, and krypton in decreasing order of volume. Air also contains varying amounts of water vapor, particulate matter such as dust and soot, and chemical pollutants.

Other Word Forms

• airlike adjective
• unaired adjective
• well-aired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of air¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English eir, from Old French air, from Latin āēr- (accusative āerem ), from Greek āer- (stem of āḗr ) “the lower atmosphere”; conflated with air ¹ ( especially for defs. 4, 5 ) French air, Old French aire “nature, character,” Latin ager “field” ( acre ) and ārea “threshing floor, clearing, area ”; and with air ¹ ( for def. 7 ) French air, from Italian aria aria

Origin of air²

ere

Word History and Origins

Origin of air¹

C13: via Old French and Latin from Greek aēr the lower atmosphere

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the air, in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast.

   The program will be going on the air in a few seconds.

2. into thin air, completely out of sight or reach.

   He vanished into thin air.

3. put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner.

   As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.

4. walk / tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.

5. give (someone) the air,

   1. to reject, as a lover.

      He was bitter because she gave him the air.

   2. to dismiss, as an employee.

6. take the air,

   1. to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.

   2. Slang. to leave, especially hurriedly.

   3. to begin broadcasting.

7. get some air,

   1. to take a break from an unpleasant encounter or stifling environment.

      She walked away from the argument to get some air.

   2. to take a short rest.

8. clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc..

   The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.

9. get the air,

   1. to be rejected, as by a lover.

   2. to be dismissed, as by an employer.

      He had worked only a few days when he got the air.

10. in the air, in circulation; current.

    There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.

11. off the air,

    1. not broadcasting.

       The station goes off the air at midnight.

    2. not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast.

       The program went off the air years ago.

12. up in the air,

    1. Also in the air undecided or unsettled.

       The contract is still up in the air.

    2. Informal. angry; perturbed.

       There is no need to get up in the air over a simple mistake.

More idioms and phrases containing air

• breath of fresh air
• castles in the air
• clear the air
• give someone the air
• hot air
• in the air
• into (out of) thin air
• nose in the air
• off the air
• put on airs
• up in the air
• walk on air
• wash (air) one's dirty linen

Synonym Study

See wind ¹. See manner ¹.

Example Sentences

Her tendency to brush through political controversies gave her an air of untouchability, with some dubbing her "Teflon Ang".

From BBC

“The crowd loved to see the ball in the air,” Fouts said.

From Los Angeles Times

The sweet smoky smell of wildland fire permeated the hot midday air.

From Los Angeles Times

She said children were on their way to school this morning but there was a "lull in the air of sadness".

From BBC

One of July's successes was the tech and household appliances chain Currys which said on Thursday that hot weather had led to increased demand for air conditioners and fans.

From BBC

Related Words

• broadcast 
• circulate 
• communicate 
• declare 
• disclose 
• display 
• publicize 
• publish 
• put 
• reveal 
• speak 
• tell 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of air?

Air is the invisible mixture of gases that makes up the Earth’s atmosphere. This is what we mean when we talk about the air that we breathe. The word air is also used to refer to the appearance of something, as in an air of mystery. Air is used as a verb meaning to expose something to air, the public, or on a broadcast. The word air has many other senses, both as a noun and a verb.Speaking scientifically, the word air refers to an invisible mixture of gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and small amounts of many other gases. You are breathing air into your lungs right now as you read these words.

• Real-life example: We are all surrounded by air. It is what makes up Earth’s atmosphere. The word air is also used generally to refer to any of the gases that can be found floating around us. For example, a balloon filled with air is most likely full of the carbon dioxide gas released from a person’s lungs.



• Used in a sentence: Swimmers returned to the surface so she could get a breath of air. 

The terms air or the air is used generally to refer to the sky or open space outside.

• Real-life example: Airplanes and helicopters are designed to fly in the air, meaning the empty space over the ground. Birds, bats, and insects also travel through this empty space.



• Used in a sentence: The boy threw the ball into the air. 

Air is also used to describe a style or appearance that something or someone has. The plural airs is used when someone acts as though they are better than other people, often in the phrase put on airs.

• Used in a sentence: The quiet man had an air of mystery about him. 

As a verb, air is used to variously mean exposing something to air, exposing something to the public as a whole, or to broadcast something, such as on TV, radio, or a webcast.

• Real-life example: People will sometimes air a room by opening windows or air out laundry so the wind will blow smells off it. Gossip magazines and websites often air celebrity secrets or rumors. Television and radio stations air (broadcast) programs every day.



• Used in a sentence: The angry citizens aired their complaints to the nervous mayor.