AIR


Meaning of AIR in English

/ eə(r); NAmE er/ noun , verb

■ noun

GAS

1.

[ U ] the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe :

air pollution

Let's go out for some fresh air .

I need to put some air in my tyres.

currents of warm air

➡ note at outside

SPACE

2.

[ U ] (usually the air ) the space above the ground or that is around things :

I kicked the ball high in / into the air .

Spicy smells wafted through the air .

Music filled the night air.

—see also open air

FOR PLANES

3.

[ U ] the space above the earth where planes fly :

It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane) .

air travel / traffic

The temple was clearly visible from the air.

A surprise air attack (= from aircraft) was launched at night.

IMPRESSION

4.

[ sing. ] the particular feeling or impression that is given by sb/sth; the way sb does sth :

The room had an air of luxury.

She looked at him with a defiant air.

TUNE

5.

[ C ] ( old-fashioned ) (often used in the title of a piece of music) a tune :

Bach's Air on a G string

BEHAVIOUR

6.

airs [ pl. ] ( disapproving ) a way of behaving that shows that sb thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are :

I hate the way she puts on airs .

IDIOMS

- airs and graces

- float / walk on air

- in the air

- on / off (the) air

- up in the air

—more at breath , castle , clear verb , nose noun , pluck verb , thin adjective

■ verb

CLOTHES

1.

( especially BrE ) to put clothing, etc. in a place that is warm or has plenty of air so that it dries completely and smells fresh; to be left to dry somewhere :

[ vn ]

Air the sheets well.

[ v ]

Leave the towels out to air.

A ROOM

2.

( BrE ) ( NAmE ˌair (sth) ˈout ) to allow fresh air into a room or a building; to be filled with fresh air :

[ vn ]

The rooms had all been cleaned and aired.

[also v ]

OPINIONS

3.

[ vn ] to express your opinions publicly

SYN voice :

The weekly meeting enables employees to air their grievances .

RADIO / TV PROGRAMME

4.

( especially NAmE ) to broadcast a programme on the radio or on television; to be broadcast :

[ vn ]

The show will be aired next Tuesday night.

[ v ]

The program aired last week.

PHRASAL VERBS

- air out | air sth out

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (in senses 1-3 of noun): from Old French air , from Latin aer , from Greek aēr , denoting the gas. Senses 4 and 6 of the noun are from French air , probably from Old French aire site, disposition, from Latin ager , agr- field (influenced by senses 1-3). Sense 5 of the noun comes from Italian aria , from Latin aer air.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.