Adjacent Words

Air definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AIR, n. [L. aer; Heb. to shine. The radical sense is to open, expand; whence clear; or to flow, to shoot, to radiate.]
1. The fluid which we breathe. Air is inodorous, invisible, insipid, colorless, elastic, possessed of gravity, easily moved, rarefied, and condensed.
Atmospheric air is a compound fluid, consisting of oxygen gas, and nitrogen or azote; the proportion of each is stated by chimists differently; some experiments making the oxygen a twenty-eighth part of a hundred; others, not more than a twenty-third, or something less. The latter is probably the true proportion.
Oxygen gas is called vital air. The body of air surrounding the earth is called the atmosphere. The specific gravity of air is to that of water, nearly as 1 to 828. Air is necessary to life; being inhaled into the lungs, the oxygenous part is separated from the azotic, and it is supposed to furnish the body with heat and animation. It is the medium of sounds and necessary to combustion.
2. Air in motion; a light breeze.
Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play.
3. Vent; utterance abroad; publication; publicity; as, a story has taken air.
You gave it air before me.
Wind is used in like manner.
4. A tune; a short song or piece of music adapted to words; also, the peculiar modulation of the notes, which gives music its character; as, a soft air. A song or piece of poetry for singing; also, the leading part of a tune, or that which is intended to exhibit the greatest variety of melody.
5. The peculiar look, appearance, manner or mien of a person; as, a heavy air; the air of youth; a graceful air; a lofty air. It is applied to manners or gestures, as well as to features.
6. Airs, in the plural, is used to denote an affected manner, show of pride, haughtiness; as, when it is said of a person, he puts on airs. The word is used also to express the artificial motions or carriage of a horse.
7. In painting, that which expresses the life of action; manner; gesture; attitude.
8. Any thing light or uncertain; that is light as air.
Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks. Obs.
9. Advice; intelligence; information. Obs.
10. Different states of air are characterized by different epithets; as, good air, foul air, morning air, evening air; and sometimes airs may have been used for ill-scent or vapor, but the use is not legitimate.
To take the air, is to go abroad; to walk or ride a little distance.
To take air, is to be divulged; to be made public.
AIR, v.t.
1. To expose to the air; to give access to the open air; to ventilate; as, to air clothes; to air a room.
2. To expose to heat; to warm; as, to air liquors.
3. To dry by a fire; to expel dampness; as, to air linen.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of; "air pollution"; "a smell of chemicals in the air"; "open a window and let in some air"; "I need some fresh air"
2: the region above the ground; "her hand stopped in mid air"; "he threw the ball into the air"
3: a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance" [syn: air, aura, atmosphere]
4: a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck" [syn: breeze, zephyr, gentle wind, air]
5: the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere"; "it was exposed to the air" [syn: atmosphere, air]
6: once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
7: a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven" [syn: tune, melody, air, strain, melodic line, line, melodic phrase]
8: medium for radio and television broadcasting; "the program was on the air from 9 til midnight"; "the president used the airwaves to take his message to the people" [syn: air, airwave]
9: travel via aircraft; "air travel involves too much waiting in airports"; "if you've time to spare go by air" [syn: air travel, aviation, air] v
1: expose to fresh air; "aerate your old sneakers" [syn: air out, air, aerate]
2: be broadcast; "This show will air Saturdays at 2 P.M."
3: broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television; "We cannot air this X-rated song" [syn: air, send, broadcast, beam, transmit]
4: make public; "She aired her opinions on welfare" [syn: publicize, publicise, air, bare]
5: expose to warm or heated air, so as to dry; "Air linen"
6: expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen; "air the old winter clothes"; "air out the smoke-filled rooms" [syn: vent, ventilate, air out, air]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer, from Greek a?r Date: 14th century 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 Synonyms: see pose • airless adjective • airlessness noun II. verb Date: 1530 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> Synonyms: see express

Britannica Concise

Mixture of gases constituting the earth's atmosphere. Some gases occur in steady concentrations. The most important are molecular nitrogen (N2), 78% by volume, and molecular oxygen (O2), 21%. Small amounts of argon (Ar; 1.9%), neon (Ne), helium (He), methane (CH4), krypton (Kr), hydrogen (H2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and xenon (Xe) are also present in almost constant proportions. Other gases occur in variable concentrations: water vapor (H2O), ozone (O3), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Air also contains trace amounts of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The variable constituents are important for maintaining life. Water vapor 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.

NOAA Weather Glossary

The mixture of gases that make-up the earth's atmosphere.

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) In artillery and naval gunfire support, a spotting, or an observation, by a spotter or an observer to indicate that a burst or group of bursts occurred before impact.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 an invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen. 2 a the earth's atmosphere. b the free or unconfined space in the atmosphere (birds of the air; in the open air). c the atmosphere as a place where aircraft operate. 3 a a distinctive impression or characteristic (an air of absurdity). b one's manner or bearing, esp. a confident one (with a triumphant air; does things with an air). c (esp. in pl.) an affected manner; pretentiousness (gave himself airs; airs and graces). 4 Mus. a tune or melody; a melodious composition. 5 a breeze or light wind. --v.tr. 1 warm (washed laundry) to remove damp, esp. at a fire or in a heated cupboard. 2 expose (a room etc.) to the open air; ventilate. 3 express publicly (an opinion, grievance, etc.). 4 parade; show ostentatiously (esp. qualities). 5 refl. go out in the fresh air. Phrases and idioms: air bag a safety device that fills with air on impact to protect the occupants of a vehicle in a collision. air-bed an inflatable mattress. air-bladder a bladder or sac filled with air in fish or some plants (cf. swim-bladder). air brake 1 a brake worked by air pressure. 2 a movable flap or other device on an aircraft to reduce its speed. air-brick a brick perforated with small holes for ventilation. air-bridge a portable bridge or walkway put against an aircraft door. Air Chief Marshal an RAF officer of high rank, below Marshal of the RAF and above Air Marshal. Air Commodore an RAF officer next above Group Captain. air-conditioned (of a room, building, etc.) equipped with air-conditioning. air-conditioner an air-conditioning apparatus. air-conditioning 1 a system for regulating the humidity, ventilation, and temperature in a building. 2 the apparatus for this. air-cooled cooled by means of a current of air. air corridor = CORRIDOR 4. air-cushion 1 an inflatable cushion. 2 the layer of air supporting a hovercraft or similar vehicle. air force a branch of the armed forces concerned with fighting or defence in the air. air-hostess a stewardess in a passenger aircraft. air lane a path or course regularly used by aircraft (cf. LANE 4). air letter a sheet of light paper forming a letter for sending by airmail. air line a pipe supplying air, esp. to a diver. Air Marshal an RAF officer of high rank, below Air Chief Marshal and above Air Vice-Marshal. Air Officer any RAF officer above the rank of Group Captain. air plant a plant growing naturally without soil. air pocket an apparent vacuum in the air causing an aircraft to drop suddenly. air power the ability to defend and attack by means of aircraft, missiles, etc. air pump a device for pumping air into or out of a vessel. air raid an attack by aircraft. air rifle a rifle using compressed air to propel pellets. air sac an extension of the lungs in birds or the tracheae in insects. air-sea rescue rescue from the sea by aircraft. air speed the speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it is moving. air terminal a building in a city or town to which passengers report and which serves as a base for transport to and from an airport. air time time allotted for a broadcast. air-to-air from one aircraft to another in flight. air traffic controller an airport official who controls air traffic by giving radio instructions to pilots concerning route, altitude, take-off, and landing. Air Vice-Marshal an RAF officer of high rank, just below Air Marshal. air waves colloq. radio waves used in broadcasting. by air by aircraft; in an aircraft. in the air 1 (of opinions or feelings) prevalent; gaining currency. 2 (of projects etc.) uncertain, not decided. on (or off) the air in (or not in) the process of broadcasting. take the air go out of doors. tread (or walk) on air feel elated. Etymology: ME f. F and L f. Gk aer

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Air Air ([^a]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired ([^a]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] [See Air, n., and cf. A[eum]rate.] 1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room. It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. --Bacon. Were you but riding forth to air yourself. --Shak. 2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion. Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. --Tennyson. 3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Air Air ([^a]r), n. [OE. air, eir, F. air, L. a["e]r, fr. Gr. 'ah`r, air, mist, for 'a[digamma]hr, fr. root 'a[digamma] to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. wind. In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. aria, or due to confusion with F. aire, in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. A["e]ry, Debonair, Malaria, Wind.] 1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable. Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water. 2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. ``Charm ache with air.'' --Shak. He was still all air and fire. [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water.] --Macaulay . 3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, etc. 4. Any a["e]riform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital air. [Obs.] 5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind. Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. --Pope. 6. Odoriferous or contaminated air. 7. That which surrounds and influences. The keen, the wholesome air of poverty. --Wordsworth. 8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent. You gave it air before me. --Dryden. 9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] --Bacon. 10. (Mus.) (a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria. (b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called the air. 11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien; demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. ``His very air.'' --Shak. 12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner; style. It was communicated with the air of a secret. --Pope. 12. pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. --Thackeray.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(airs, airing, aired) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. Air is the mixture of gases which forms the earth's atmosphere and which we breathe. Draughts help to circulate air... Keith opened the window and leaned out into the cold air. ...water and air pollutants. 2. The air is the space around things or above the ground. Government troops broke up the protest by firing their guns in the air... N-SING: the N 3. Air is used to refer to travel in aircraft. Air travel will continue to grow at about 6% per year... Casualties had to be brought to hospital by air. N-UNCOUNT: usu N n, by N 4. If you say that someone or something has a particular air, you mean that they give this general impression. Jennifer regarded him with an air of amusement... N-SING: with supp, oft N of n 5. If you say that someone is putting on airs or giving themselves airs, you are criticizing them for behaving as if they are better than other people. (INFORMAL) We're poor and we never put on airs. N-PLURAL [disapproval] 6. If a broadcasting company airs a television or radio programme, they show it on television or broadcast it on the radio. (mainly AM) Tonight PBS will air a documentary called 'Democracy In Action'. = broadcast VERB: V n • airing ...the airing of offensive material. N-SING 7. If you air your opinions, you make them known to people. The whole issue was thoroughly aired at the meeting. = express VERB: be V-ed 8. If you air a room or building, you let fresh air into it. One day a week her mother systematically cleaned and aired each room. VERB: V n 9. If you air clothing or bedding, you put it somewhere warm to make sure that it is completely dry. VERB 10. If you do something to clear the air, you do it in order to resolve any problems or disagreements that there might be. ...an inquiry just to clear the air and settle the facts of the case. PHRASE: V inflects 11. If something is in the air it is felt to be present, but it is not talked about. There was great excitement in the air... PHRASE 12. If someone is on the air, they are broadcasting on radio or television. If a programme is on the air, it is being broadcast on radio or television. If it is off the air, it is not being broadcast. She is going on the air as presenter of a new show... This message did not reach me until after the programme went off the air. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 13. If someone or something disappears into thin air, they disappear completely. If someone or something appears out of thin air, they appear suddenly and mysteriously. He had materialized out of thin air; I had not seen or heard him coming. PHRASE: PHR after v 14. If you say that a decision or a situation is up in the air, you mean that it has not yet been completely settled or planned. He told reporters today that the president's trip to Moscow is up in the air. = undecided ? settled PHRASE: v-link PHR 15. If you say that you are walking on air or floating on air, you mean that you feel extremely happy about something. As soon as I know I'm in the team it's like I'm walking on air. PHRASE: V inflects

Easton's Bible Dictionary

the atmosphere, as opposed to the higher regions of the sky (1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 9:2; 16:17). This word occurs once as the rendering of the Hebrew _ruah_ (Job 41:16); elsewhere it is the rendering of _shamaiyim_, usually translated "heavens."

The expression "to speak into the air" (1 Cor. 14:9) is a proverb denoting to speak in vain, as to "beat the air" (1 Cor. 9:26) denotes to labour in vain.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ar (aer): In the Old Testament "air" is used (with one exception) in the phrase "fowl" or "fowls (birds) of the air." The Hebrew word is usually rendered "heaven" or "heavens." According to ancient Hebrew cosmogony the sky was a solid dome (firmament) stretching over the earth as a covering. In the above phrase the air means the space between the earth and the firmament. In Job 41:16 "air" renders ruach, "breath," "wind," "spirit." The scales of the leviathan are so closely joined together that no air can penetrate. In the New Testament the phrase "birds (or fowls) of the air," occurs ten times. This simply reproduces the Hebraism noticed above. Apart from this expression "air" in the King James Version represents aer, which denotes the atmosphere which surrounds us. The expression "beating the air" (1Co 9:26) means to "deal blows that do not get home"--that miss the mark. In his conflict with the lower life represented by the body, Paul compares himself to a boxer who aims with unerring accuracy at his opponent. No stroke is lost. Paul also uses the phrase "speaking into the air" (1Co 14:9) in reference to the unintelligible utterances of those who "spake with tongues." In the expression, "prince of the powers of the air" (Eph 2:2 the King James Version) we find an echo of the current belief that the air was the dwelling place of spirits, especially of evil spirits.

Thomas Lewis

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Atmosphere, atmospheric air, common air. 2. Gas, aeriform fluid. 3. Breeze, zephyr, gentle wind, breath of air, current of air. 4. Weather, open air, open atmosphere. 5. Appearance, aspect, mien, manner, look, cast, demeanor, conduct, carriage, bearing, deportment, behavior, port. 6. Tune, melody, song, treble or soprano, poem. II. v. a. 1. Expose to air, ventilate, change the air of. 2. Expose, display, spread abroad, make ostentation of.

Moby Thesaurus

CAT, Caelus, action, actions, activity, acts, address, advertise, aerate, aerodynamics, aerospace, aerosphere, affectation, air, air hole, air out, air pocket, air-condition, air-cool, airify, airspace, airy nothing, analyze, aria, atmosphere, atom, atomic particles, aura, azure, bearing, behavior, behavior pattern, behavioral norm, behavioral science, blazon forth, blue sky, brandish, break it to, break the news, breathe, breeze, broach, broadcast, brow, brute matter, bubble, building block, bump, caelum, canopy, canopy of heaven, canto, cantus, canvass, carriage, cast, cast of countenance, ceiling, cerulean, chaff, chemical element, chip, climate, cobweb, color, come out with, comment upon, complexion, component, comportment, conduct, confide, confide to, consider, constituent, controvert, cooling breeze, cope, cork, countenance, cross-ventilate, crosswind, culture pattern, custom, dangle, deal with, debate, declare, deliberate, deliberate upon, demeanor, demonstrate, deportment, descant, discourse about, discover, discuss, display, divulgate, divulge, doing, doings, down, dust, earth, element, elementary particle, elementary unit, emblazon, empty space, empyrean, ether, evulgate, examine, exchange views, exhibit, face, facial appearance, fairy, fan, favor, favorable wind, feather, feature, features, feel, feeling, fire, firmament, flash, flaunt, flourish, flue, fluff, fluid, foam, fog, folkway, freshen, front, froth, fundamental particle, fuzz, gale, garb, gas, gentle wind, gestures, give, give out, give vent to, go into, goings-on, gossamer, guise, halogen gas, handle, head wind, heaven, heavens, high-pressure area, hold up, hole, hyaline, hyle, hypostasis, illusion, inert gas, investigate, ionosphere, jetstream, knock around, lay, let get around, let in on, let out, lift, lifts, light air, light breeze, light wind, line, lineaments, lines, looks, low-pressure area, maintien, make known, make public, manifest, manner, manners, material, material world, materiality, matter, measure, melodia, melodic line, melody, method, methodology, methods, mien, milieu, mist, moderate breeze, modus vivendi, molecule, monad, mote, motions, movements, moves, natural world, nature, noise abroad, note, observable behavior, ocean breeze, onshore breeze, open up, out with, overcast, overtone, oxygenate, oxygenize, parade, pass under review, pattern, phantom, physical world, physiognomy, plenum, pneumatics, pocket, poise, port, pose, posture, practice, praxis, presence, procedure, proceeding, proclaim, publish, put, put forth, put forward, put out, quality, rap, reason, reason about, reason the point, refrain, refresh, reveal, review, roughness, sea breeze, sense, set, shadow, sift, sky, smoke, social science, softblowing wind, solo, solo part, song, soprano part, soup, space, spirit, sponge, sport, spume, stance, starry heaven, state, strain, stratosphere, straw, study, stuff, style, substance, substratosphere, substratum, tactics, tail wind, take up, talk, talk about, talk of, talk over, tell, the blue, the blue serene, the four elements, thin air, thistledown, thresh out, tone, traits, treat, treble, tropopause, troposphere, trough, trumpet, trumpet forth, tune, turbulence, turn, undertone, unit of being, utter, vapor, vault, vault of heaven, vaunt, vent, ventilate, visage, visibility, visibility zero, water, wave, way, way of life, ways, welkin, wind, winnow, zephyr