Dictionary
air
Pronunciation: (âr), [key]—
n.
1. a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere.
2. a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze.
3. overhead space; sky:
The planes filled the air.
4. circulation; publication; publicity:
to give air to one's theories.
5. the general character or complexion of anything; appearance:
His early work had an air of freshness and originality.
6. the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person:
There is an air of mystery about him.
7. airs,affected or unnatural manner; manifestation of pride or vanity; assumed haughtiness:
He acquired airs that were insufferable to his friends.
8. Music.
a. a tune; melody.
b. the soprano or treble part.
c. an aria.
d. Also,ayre.an Elizabethan art song.
9. aircraft as a means of transportation:
to arrive by air; to ship goods by air.
10. Informal.air conditioning or an air-conditioning system:
The price includes tires, radio, and air.
11. Radio.the medium through which radio waves are transmitted.
12. Archaic.breath.
13. clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc.:
The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.
14. get the air, Informal.
a. to be rejected, as by a lover.
b. to be dismissed, as by an employer:
He had worked only a few days when he got the air.
15. give (someone) the air, Informal.
a. to reject, as a lover:
He was bitter because she gave him the air.
b. to dismiss, as an employee.
16. in the air, in circulation; current:
There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.
17. into thin air, completely out of sight or reach:
He vanished into thin air.
18. off the air,
a. not broadcasting:
The station goes off the air at midnight.
b. not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast:
The program went off the air years ago.
c. (of a computer) not in operation.
19. on the air,
a. in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast:
The program will be going on the air in a few seconds.
b. (of a computer) in operation.
20. put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner:
As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.
21. take the air,
a. to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.
b. Slang.to leave, esp. hurriedly.
c. to begin broadcasting.
22. up in the air,
a. Also,in the air.undecided or unsettled:
The contract is still up in the air.
b. Informal.angry; perturbed:
There is no need to get up in the air over a simple mistake.
23. walk or tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.
—
v.t.
1. to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often fol. by
out):
We air the bedrooms every day.
2. to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display:
to air one's opinions; to air one's theories.
3. to broadcast or televise.
—
v.i.
1. to be exposed to the open air (often fol. by
out):
Open the window and let the room air out.
2. to be broadcast or televised.
—
adj.
1. operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air:
an air drill; an air pump.
2. of or pertaining to aircraft or to aviation:
air industry.
3. taking place in the air; aerial:
air war. air
Pronunciation: (âr), [key] Scot.
—
adj.
early.
—
adv.
Obs.before; previously.
A•ïr
Pronunciation: (ä'ēr), [key]—
n.
a region in N Niger, in the Sahara: low massif and oases. ab. 30,000 sq. mi. (77,700 sq. km). Also called
Asben. a-i-r
artist-in-residence.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: - air (Thesaurus)
- air (Encyclopedia)
