aerial

[ adjective air-ee-uhl, ey-eer-ee-uhl; noun air-ee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of, in, or produced by the air:

   aerial currents.

2. inhabiting or frequenting the air:

   aerial creatures.

3. operating on a track or cable elevated above the ground:

   an aerial ski lift up the mountainside.

4. reaching far into the air; high; lofty:

   aerial spires.

5. partaking of the nature of air; airy.
6. unsubstantial; visionary:

   aerial fancies.

7. having a light and graceful beauty; ethereal:

   aerial music.

8. Biology. growing in the air, as the adventitious roots of some trees.
9. pertaining to or used for, against, or in aircraft.
10. supplied or performed by means of aircraft:

    aerial support; aerial reconnaissance.

noun

1. a radio or television antenna.
2. Football. forward pass.

aerial

/ ˈɛərɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling air
2. existing, occurring, moving, or operating in the air

   aerial roots of a plant

   aerial cable car

3. ethereal; light and delicate
4. imaginary; visionary
5. extending high into the air; lofty
6. of or relating to aircraft

   aerial combat

noun

1. Also calledantenna the part of a radio or television system having any of various shapes, such as a dipole, Yagi, long-wire, or vertical aerial, by means of which radio waves are transmitted or received

Other Words From

• aeri·al·ly adverb
• aeri·al·ness noun
• super·aeri·al adjective
• super·aeri·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of aerial¹

1595–1605; 1900–05 aerial fordef 11; < Latin āeri ( us ) of the air (< Greek āérios, equivalent to āer- (stem of āḗr air ¹ ) + -ios adj. suffix) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aerial¹

C17: via Latin from Greek aērios, from aēr air

Example Sentences

Firefighters used four water bowsers, two aerial ladder platforms, and a high volume pump to tackle the flames.

From BBC

An aerial view shows the compound of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on November 7, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

From Salon

If a signal is not strong enough, it can be boosted by an aerial.

From BBC

He died in 1985 when the aircraft he was onboard taking aerial photographs of traffic congestion crashed.

From BBC

Attacks from missiles, drones and aerial glide bombs have killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks.

From Los Angeles Times