aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈer-ə-ˌsäl  -ˌsȯl 

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

Some researchers have also noted that recent changes in shipping regulations removed some atmospheric aerosols that were reflecting heat from reaching the planet. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024

The information is expected to help scientists make better climate predictions, by revealing how aerosols in the atmosphere interact with greenhouse gases and reflect sunlight back to space, said Otto Hasekamp, an atmospheric scientist with the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. —USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024

The researchers argued that those particles, which were about the same size as microscopic bacteria, would have made a larger contribution to blocking sunlight than soot particles or sulfur aerosols. —Michael Lee, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2023

The idea behind the concept is simple: Large amounts of aerosols would be sprayed into the clouds above the ocean in order to increase their reflectivity. —Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024

The gases are used in applications such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, building insulation, fire extinguishing systems, and aerosols. —USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024

There have also been headlines lately about one startup’s rogue attempts at launching aerosols into the atmosphere to try to stop global warming. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 8 Feb. 2024

This broadly matches up with increases in carbon emissions and reductions in aerosols over the past few decades. —Keith Collins, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2024

While understanding such information is important from many climate perspectives, there are relationships between aerosols (small particles in the atmosphere), clouds, and phytoplankton. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

aero- + -sol (in hydrosol)

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl  ˈer- 

-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  ˈer- 

-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