an abnormal fear of drafts of air, gases, or airborne matter
Derived forms
aerophobic (ˌɛərəˈfoubɪk, -ˈfɑbɪk)
adjective
Word origin
[1765–75; aero- + -phobia]This word is first recorded in the period 1765–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: backwash, bilateral, copperhead, mocha, statementaero- is a combining form meaning “air,” used in formation of compound words. Other wordsthat use the affix aero- include: aeroculture, aeroembolism, aeropause, aerosol, aerospace; -phobia is a combining form meaning “fear,” occurring in loanwords from Greek (hydrophobia). On this model, -phobia is used in the names of mental disorders that have the general sense “dread of, aversiontoward” that specified by the initial element. Other words that use the affix -phobia include: Anglophobia, gerontophobia, photophobia, technophobia, triskaidekaphobia