(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A planet’s ~ is the layer of air or other gases around it.
The shuttle Columbia will re-enter Earth’s ~ tomorrow morning...
N-COUNT: usu sing
2.
The ~ of a place is the air that you breathe there.
These gases pollute the ~ of towns and cities.
N-COUNT: usu sing
3.
The ~ of a place is the general impression that you get of it.
There’s still an ~ of great hostility and tension in the city.
N-SING: usu with supp
4.
If a place or an event has ~, it is interesting.
The old harbour is still full of ~ and well worth visiting.
= ambience
N-UNCOUNT