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, aura, aspect, demeanor

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 by out ):

   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 by out ):

   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 aerial
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. clear the air
    to rid a situation of tension or discord by settling misunderstandings, etc
12. give someone the air slang.
    to reject or dismiss someone
13. in the air
    1. in circulation; current
    2. in the process of being decided; unsettled
14. into thin air
    leaving no trace behind
15. off the air
    not in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
16. on the air
    in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
17. out of thin air or from thin air
    suddenly and unexpectedly
18. take the air
    to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride
19. up in the air
    1. uncertain
    2. agitated or excited
20. walk on air
    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. 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) Also calledAzbineAsben

AIR

³

abbreviation for

1. All India Radio

air

/ âr /

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 Words From

• air·like adjective
• un·aired 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( espfordefs 4, 5 ) French air, Old French aire “nature, character,” Latin ager “field” ( acre ) and ārea “threshing floor, clearing, area ”; and with air ¹( fordef 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. clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc.:

   The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.

2. 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.
3. get the air, Informal.
   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.

4. give (someone) the air, Informal.
   1. to reject, as a lover:

      He was bitter because she gave him the air.

   2. to dismiss, as an employee.
5. in the air, in circulation; current:

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

6. into thin air, completely out of sight or reach:

   He vanished into thin air.

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

10. 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.
11. 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.

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

More idioms and phrases containing air

In addition to the idiom beginning with air , also see 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

But I was hoisted in the air on wires in a harness.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s so much that’s still up in the air.

From Los Angeles Times

The South Coast Air Quality Management District recommends staying indoors and running air conditioners or air purifiers.

From Los Angeles Times

Local air quality monitors, the PurpleAir community scientist network and other online services can give a clear picture of particle pollution in your area.

From Los Angeles Times

You can’t rely on the sky’s color, which can be deceiving: In 2020, wildfires turned San Francisco’s sky dark orange, but air quality was actually worse after the sun returned and the skies looked more normal, because by then smoke particles were dropping closer to the ground, into the air people breathe.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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