a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere.
a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze.
overhead space; sky: The planes filled the air.
circulation; publication; publicity: to give air to one's theories.
the general character or complexion of anything; appearance: His early work had an air of freshness and originality.
the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person: There is an air of mystery about him.
airs,affected or unnatural manner; manifestation of pride or vanity; assumed haughtiness: He acquired airs that were insufferable to his friends.
Music.
a tune; melody.
the soprano or treble part.
an aria.
Also ayre .an Elizabethan art song.
aircraft as a means of transportation: to arrive by air; to ship goods by air.
Informal. air conditioning or an air-conditioning system: The price includes tires, radio, and air.
Sports.
(during an airborne stunt) the height between the ground and an athlete or an athlete with his or her equipment: The BMX course was designed for riders to get good air.
such a jump or other airborne stunt: The snowboarder took first place with four clean airs.
Radio. the medium through which radio waves are transmitted.
Archaic. breath.
verb (used with object)
to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often followed by out): We air the bedrooms every day.
to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display: to air one's opinions; to air one's theories.
to broadcast or televise.
verb (used without object)
to be exposed to the open air (often followed by out): Open the window and let the room air out.
to be broadcast or televised.
adjective
operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air: an air drill; an air pump.
of or relating to aircraft or to aviation: air industry.
taking place in the air; aerial: air war.
Idioms for air
clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc.: The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.
get some air,
to take a break from an unpleasant encounter or stifling environment: She walked away from the argument to get some air.
to take a short rest.
get the air, Informal.
to be rejected, as by a lover.
to be dismissed, as by an employer: He had worked only a few days when he got the air.
give (someone) the air, Informal.
to reject, as a lover: He was bitter because she gave him the air.
to dismiss, as an employee.
in the air, in circulation; current: There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.
into thin air, completely out of sight or reach: He vanished into thin air.
off the air,
not broadcasting: The station goes off the air at midnight.
not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast: The program went off the air years ago.
on the air, in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast: The program will be going on the air in a few seconds.
put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner: As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.
take the air,
to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.
Slang.to leave, especially hurriedly.
to begin broadcasting.
up in the air,
Also in the air .undecided or unsettled: The contract is still up in the air.
Informal.angry; perturbed: There is no need to get up in the air over a simple mistake.
walk / tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.
Origin of air
1
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 (especially for defs. 4, 5) French air, Old French aire “nature, character,” Latin ager “field” (cf. acre) and ārea “threshing floor, clearing, area ”; and with (for def. 7) French air, from Italian aria aria
The air quality in Portland has become the worst in the world — with Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver also ranking up there with notoriously polluted places like Delhi and Shanghai.
Air quality in American West among the worst in the world|Jennifer A. Kingson|September 17, 2020|Axios
She noted that with the ongoing wildfires, there are certain communities who can’t shelter in place or evacuate their neighborhoods to escape the polluted air.
Why fighting climate change is key to America’s health|Erika Fry|September 16, 2020|Fortune
The campaign said the ads will air in local markets in key states with early voting, including North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic|Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
The original ad starring Boyega, 28, aired last year and was called “The London Gent.”
John Boyega steps down from Jo Malone perfume ambassador role after being replaced in Chinese ad|radmarya|September 15, 2020|Fortune
I watched as towering plumes of smoke billowed from distant hills in all directions and air tankers crisscrossed the skies.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration|by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
And Air Force assessors are the first to say such imaging never tells the whole story.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sprawled on chaise lounges with their knees high in the air and their legs spread wide.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Pentagon said Faal served in the Air Force for seven years, during which time he became a U.S. citizen.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country|Jacob Siegel|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That apparently includes some members of the management of the airport itself and some air traffic controllers.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In other words, the Air Force is saying that its drone force has been stretched to its limits.
Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says|Dave Majumdar|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One bolt struck near with a tremendous shock and the air was driven in violent waves into the very mouth of the cave.
The Keepers of the Trail|Joseph A. Altsheler
The climate of Cumberland does not overpower one—the air is of a quality that urges you on to think and do.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 5 (of 14)|Elbert Hubbard
"But it is terrible to have the air so full of noise," continued the girl, as she made a little face at her brother.
Walter and the Wireless|Sara Ware Bassett
His eye-glass gave him an air of full dress even at this early hour.
The Girl From His Town|Marie Van Vorst
Though late in the afternoon, the sun was hot, the air sultry.
The Wonder of War on Land|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
British Dictionary definitions for air (1 of 3)
air
/ (ɛə) /
noun
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
the space above and around the earth; skyRelated adjective: aerial
breeze; slight wind
public expression; utteranceto give air to one's complaints
a distinctive qualityan air of mystery
a person's distinctive appearance, manner, or bearing
music
a simple tune for either vocal or instrumental performance
another word for aria
transportation in aircraft (esp in the phrase by air)
an archaic word for breath (def. 1), breath (def. 2), breath (def. 3)
Australianinformalthe height gained when getting airborne in surfing, snowboarding, etc
clear the airto rid a situation of tension or discord by settling misunderstandings, etc
give someone the airslangto reject or dismiss someone
in the air
in circulation; current
in the process of being decided; unsettled
into thin airleaving no trace behind
off the airnot in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
on the airin the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
out of thin airorfrom thin airsuddenly and unexpectedly
take the airto go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride
up in the air
uncertain
informalagitated or excited
walk on airto feel elated or exhilarated
(modifier)astrologyof or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Gemini, Libra, and AquariusCompare earth (def. 10), fire (def. 24), water (def. 12)
verb
to expose or be exposed to the air so as to cool or freshen; ventilateto air a room
to expose or be exposed to warm or heated air so as to dryto air linen
(tr)to make known publicly; display; publicizeto air one's opinions
(intr)(of a television or radio programme) to be broadcast
See also airs
Word Origin for air
C13: via Old French and Latin from Greek aēr the lower atmosphere
British Dictionary definitions for air (2 of 3)
AIR
abbreviation for
All India Radio
British Dictionary definitions for air (3 of 3)
Aïr
/ (ˈɑːɪə) /
noun
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 called: Azbine, Asben
A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, approximately 78 percent nitrogen and approximately 21 percent oxygen with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
This mixture, with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping Earth; the atmosphere.
Any of various respiratory gases. No longer in technical use.
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.