air

¹air

noun, often attributive \ˈer\

Definition of AIR

1

a archaic : breath

b : the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth

c : a light breeze

2

a : empty space

b : nothingness <vanished into thin air>

c : a sudden severance of relations <she gave me the air>

3

[probably translation of Italian aria]

a : tune, melody

b Elizabethan & Jacobean music : an accompanied song or melody in usually strophic form

c : the chief voice part or melody in choral music

4

a : outward appearance of a thing <an air of luxury>

b : a surrounding or pervading influence : atmosphere <an air of mystery>

c : the look, appearance, or bearing of a person especially as expressive of some personal quality or emotion : demeanor <an air of dignity>

d : an artificial or affected manner <put on airs>

5

: public utterance <he gave air to his opinion>

6

: compressed air

7

a (1) : aircraft <go by air> (2) : aviation <air safety> <air rights> (3) : air force <air headquarters>

b (1) : the medium of transmission of radio waves; also : radio, television <went on the air> (2) : airtime

8

: a football offense utilizing primarily the forward pass <trailing by 20 points, the team took to the air>

9

: an air-conditioning system

10

: the height achieved in performing an aerial maneuver <a snowboarder catching big air>; also : the maneuver itself

— air·less \-ləs\ adjective

— air·less·ness noun

— in the air

: in wide circulation : about

— up in the air

: not yet settled

Examples of AIR

1. These laws are meant to produce cleaner air.
2. A delicious smell filled the air.
3. I like to dine outdoors in the open air.
4. He can't breathe! Everybody move back and give him some air!
5. High in the mountains the air is thin and it can be hard to breathe.
6. He pumped air into the bicycle tire.
7. The city is wonderful seen from the air.
8. the fish of the sea and the birds of the air
9. The balloon rose up into the air and then floated through the air.
10. There has been heavy fighting on the ground and in the air.

Origin of AIR

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to AIR

Synonyms

melody, lay, song, strain, tune, warble

Related Words

descant (also discant); cadence, measure, meter, rhythm; ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal

Near Antonyms

calm

See Synonym Discussion at pose

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

Rhymes with AIR

Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare

²air

verb

Definition of AIR

transitive verb

1

: to expose to the air for drying, purifying, or refreshing : ventilate —often used with out

2

: to expose to public view or bring to public notice

3

: to transmit by radio or television <air a program>

intransitive verb

1

: to become exposed to the open air

2

: to become broadcast <the program airs daily>

Examples of AIR

1. The blankets were left outside to air.
2. She opened the windows to air the room.
3. The company had a meeting so that employees could air their complaints.
4. The interview will be aired tomorrow.
5. The interview will air tomorrow.

First Known Use of AIR

1530

Related to AIR

Synonyms

express, expound, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice

Antonyms

stifle, suppress

Related Words

advertise, announce, declare, enounce, enunciate, proclaim, say; broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish; describe, write, write up; sound off, speak out, speak up; chime in; communicate, convey, put across, put over; offer, submit

Near Antonyms

censor, restrain, restrict

See Synonym Discussion at express

air

noun \ˈa(ə)r, ˈe(ə)r\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of AIR

: a mixture of invisible odorless tasteless sound-transmitting gases that is composed by volume chiefly of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, 0.03 percent carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and minute amounts of rare gases (as helium), that surrounds the earth with half its mass within four miles of the earth's surface, that has a pressure at sea level of about 14.7 pounds per square inch, and that has a density of 1.293 grams per liter at 0°C and 760 mm pressure

air

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mixture of gases constituting the earth's atmosphere. Some gases occur in steady concentrations. The most important are molecular nitrogen (N), 78% by volume, and molecular oxygen (O), 21%. Small amounts of argon (Ar; 1.9%), neon (Ne), helium (He), methane (CH), krypton (Kr), hydrogen (H), nitrous oxide (NO), and xenon (Xe) are also present in almost constant proportions. Other gases occur in variable concentrations: water vapour (HO), ozone (O), carbon dioxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO). Air also contains trace amounts of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The variable constituents are important for maintaining life. Water vapour is the source for all forms of precipitation and is an important absorber and emitter of infrared radiation. Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis and is also an important absorber and emitter of infrared radiation. Ozone in the stratosphere (see ozone layer) is an effective absorber of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun but at ground-level is a corrosive pollutant and a major constituent of smog.