aerosol

noun

1
: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas
Smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols.
airborne aerosol transmission of infective viral particles
also, aerosols plural : the fine particles of an aerosol
stratospheric aerosols
2
: a substance (such as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol
also : the container for this

Examples of aerosol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Other complications may occur, such as faster-than-expected cuts in emissions of tiny particles known as aerosols, which are part of air pollution but also act to offset some of the warming from greenhouse gas emissions. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 15 Aug. 2024 No one has yet worked out how to get the aerosols up in the atmosphere to reflect sun rays at the kind of scale that would be necessary. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2024 Common consumer insecticide sprays and aerosols are ineffective against German cockroach infestations, according to a study published August 14 in Journal of Economic Entomology. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024 The virus may also enter people’s eyes through respiratory droplets or aerosols (tiny airborne droplets). Aria Bendix, NBC News, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for aerosol 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aerosol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

aero- + -sol (in hydrosol)

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aerosol was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near aerosol

Cite this Entry

“Aerosol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerosol. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

aerosol

noun
aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl How to pronounce aerosol (audio) ˈer- How to pronounce aerosol (audio)
-ˌsȯl
: a mixture of fine solid or liquid particles and gas
smoke and fog are aerosols

Medical Definition

aerosol

noun
aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl How to pronounce aerosol (audio) ˈer- How to pronounce aerosol (audio)
-ˌsȯl
1
: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas
smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols
2
: a substance (as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol
also : the container for this

More from Merriam-Webster on aerosol

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