# air

Pronunciation: say "AIR" US /ɛɹ/, UK /ɛə/

## Noun

1. The mixture of gases that surrounds the earth, chiefly nitrogen and oxygen, which people and animals breathe; also a similar mixture around another planet.
   - Simple: The mix of gases around the earth that we breathe, or a similar mix around another planet.
   - _Plants release oxygen into the air during photosynthesis._
   - _The air grew noticeably thinner as the climbers ascended._
3. Aircraft as a means of travel or of carrying goods, used especially in by air and before another noun.
   - Simple: Planes as a way to travel or send things, as in going by air.
   - _Fresh flowers from Colombia reach Miami by air within a day of being cut._
   - _The company moved most of its air freight to a cheaper hub last year._
4. The apparently open space above the ground that the atmosphere fills, once thought bounded by the firmament but now known to give way to the near-vacuum of outer space.
   - Simple: The open space above the ground, where birds and planes fly.
   - _The fireworks burst high in the air over the harbor._
   - _Eagles circled in the air, riding the warm rising currents._
5. A climate-control system that cools indoor air, especially in a building or vehicle. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: A system that cools the air inside a building or car.
   - _They cranked up the air as soon as summer arrived._
   - _The landlord finally fixed the air in our apartment._
6. A television or radio signal, and by extension broadcasting or transmitted media in general.
   - Simple: The signal that carries radio and TV shows, or broadcasting in general.
   - _The host returned to the air after a long suspension._
   - _Profanity on the air can draw heavy fines from regulators._
7. The air outdoors or of a particular place, thought of for its freshness or its effect on health, as in fresh air, sea air or take the air.
   - Simple: The air outside or in a certain place, thought of as fresh or good for your health.
   - _The patient was wheeled onto the balcony to take the air._
   - _Throw open the shutters and let some air into the stale room._
8. An impression, feeling or quality that a person, place or thing seems to have, as in an air of mystery or an air of authority.
   - Simple: The feeling or quality that a person, place or thing seems to have.
   - _A festive air settled over the town during the holidays._
   - _The empty house had an air of neglect, with weeds growing through the porch._
11. A gentle breeze; a soft, light wind.
   - Simple: A soft, gentle wind that moves slowly.
   - _A faint air stirred the curtains as evening fell._
   - _Sailors waited for an air to fill the limp sails._
12. A manner or attitude that suggests one considers oneself superior to others; snobbishness.
   - Simple: A way of behaving that shows you think you are better than other people.
   - _For all her airs at dinner, she grew up on the same street as the rest of us._
   - _His airs grated on the rest of the team, who valued plain talk._
13. The condition of being momentarily off the ground in the middle of a jump.
   - Simple: The short time spent off the ground during a jump, especially in sports like skateboarding.
   - _He launched off the halfpipe and got massive air._
   - _The bigger the air, the more time you have to spin before landing._
14. Nothing; the absence of anything whatsoever. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Nothing at all: empty of anything real.
   - _His grand promises amounted to nothing but air._
   - _Their entire case was built on air and collapsed in court._
15. A melodic piece of music, especially a song for a solo voice, such as an aria.
   - Simple: A tune or song, especially one performed by a single singer or player.
   - _The composer wrote a tender air for the second act._
   - _She accompanied the air on a lute._
16. Publicity or public notice; the public attention given to a matter once it is made known.
   - Simple: The attention something gets when it is made known to the public.
17. One of the four classical elements recognized by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
   - Simple: One of the four basic things the ancient Greeks and Romans believed everything was made from.
   - _Alchemists described air as hot and moist and linked it with blood among the four humors._
   - _In the old picture of the world, a layer of air lay above water and below fire._

## Verb

2. To broadcast a program on television or radio; of a program, to be broadcast.
   - Simple: To show a program on TV or play it on radio, or to be shown or played there.
   - _The documentary airs next Sunday in prime time._
   - _Those old cartoons still air on weekend mornings._
9. To expose something to fresh air, or let fresh air into a room or building, so that it freshens, dries or is ventilated.
   - Simple: To let fresh air reach something or come into a room, to make it fresh or dry.
   - _Grandmother aired the woolen quilts every spring._
   - _Air your hiking boots overnight before packing them away._
10. To make an opinion, grievance, or concern publicly known; to present it to public view and sometimes discussion.
   - Simple: To share your thoughts or feelings openly so other people hear them.
   - _At the town meeting, longtime tenants aired grievances they had kept to themselves for years._
   - _Residents gathered to air their objections to the proposed highway._
19. To deliberately ignore or snub someone. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: To deliberately ignore someone, especially by not replying to them.
   - _He aired his old friend at the party without so much as a nod._
   - _They will air anyone who crosses them._

## Noun

18. Any specific gas considered as a distinct substance. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Any one particular kind of gas, treated as its own substance.

## Origin

The word came through Middle English aire and Old French air from Latin āēr, itself from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr). It displaced the native Old English word lyft.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/air (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).