AIR


Meaning of AIR in English

I. ˈer noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr

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 air s

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

• air·less -ləs adjective

• air·less·ness noun

- in the air

- up in the air

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 air s daily

Synonyms: see express

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.