1 air
/ˈeɚ/
noun
plural
airs
1 air
/ˈeɚ/
noun
plural
airs
Britannica Dictionary definition of AIR
1
[noncount]
a
:
the invisible mixture of gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the Earth and that people and animals breathe
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These laws are meant to produce cleaner air.
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A delicious smell filled the air.
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I like to dine outdoors in the open air.
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cool/warm air
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fresh air
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a sudden gust of air [=wind]
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polluted air
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stale air
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the hot summer air
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He can't breathe! Everybody move back and give him some air!
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High in the mountains the air is thin and it can be hard to breathe.
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He pumped air into the bicycle tire.
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My keys seem to have vanished/disappeared into thin air. [=to have vanished in a very sudden and mysterious way]
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He seemed to appear out of thin air. [=in a very sudden and mysterious way]
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— see also a breath of fresh air at breath
b
:
the space or sky that is filled with air
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land, water, and air
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The city is wonderful seen from the air.
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the fish of the sea and the birds of the air
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The balloon rose up into the air and then floated through/in the air.
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There has been heavy fighting on the ground and in the air.
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2
[noncount]
:
methods of travel that involve flying
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travel by air [=by flying in airplanes]
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— often used before another noun
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an air attack
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air safety
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air travel/travelers
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3
[singular]
:
a quality that a person or thing has
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a dignified air
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— often + of
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an air of dignity
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The new furniture has given the hotel an air of luxury.
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He has an air of mystery about him. [=he has a mysterious quality]
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4
[count]
old-fashioned
:
a song or tune
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a pleasing air
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5
[noncount]
US
:
air-conditioning
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a house with central air
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clear the air
:
to talk about problems, feelings, etc., in order to reach agreement or understanding
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They cleared the air (between them) by discussing their differences.
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floating on air
or
walking on air
:
feeling very happy
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After he won the election, he was walking on air.
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give yourself airs
or
put on airs
:
to act in a way that shows you think you are better than other people
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Some of her old friends have accused her of putting on airs since she became wealthy.
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She's very rich, but she doesn't give herself airs.
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◊ In British English, the phrase airs and graces describes an overly superior or proud way of behaving. She's very rich, but she doesn't give herself any airs and graces. = She doesn't have any airs and graces. = She doesn't put on any airs and graces. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
hang in the air
— see hang in at 1hang
in the air
1
:
felt or sensed by many people
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There was a great sense of anticipation in the air as game time approached.
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2
:
expected to happen soon
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Many changes are in the air.
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nose in the air
— see 1nose
off the air
of a radio or television station, program, etc.
:
not being broadcast
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The station is now off the air.
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They took him off the air because of his extreme views.
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It was my favorite show, but it went off the air [=stopped being broadcast] last year.
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on the air
of a radio or television station, program, etc.
also
on air
:
being broadcast
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The interview will be on the air tomorrow. [=the interview will air tomorrow; the interview will be broadcast tomorrow]
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an interview being shown on air
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a show that first came/went on the air [=started being broadcast] five years ago
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The President went on the air to defend his policies.
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up in the air
:
not yet settled or decided
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Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
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— airless
/ˈeɚləs/
adjective
-
a hot, airless room
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2 air
/ˈeɚ/
verb
airs;
aired;
airing
2 air
/ˈeɚ/
verb
airs;
aired;
airing
Britannica Dictionary definition of AIR
1
a
:
to place something in an open area where there is a lot of moving air to make it cool, dry, or clean
[+ object]
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air a blanket
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air damp clothing
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[no object]
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The blankets were left outside to air.
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b
:
to allow air from the outside to enter something (such as a room) so that it becomes fresher or cleaner
[+ object]
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She opened the windows to air the room.
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— usually + out in U.S. English
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She opened the windows to air out the room.
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air out a closet
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[no object]
— usually + out in U.S. English
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She opened the windows to let the room air out.
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2
[+ object]
:
to make (something) known in public
:
to state (something) publicly
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The company had a meeting so that employees could air their complaints/grievances.
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publicly airing their differences
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Let's not air our dirty laundry [=discuss our problems, make our problems known] in public.
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3
:
to broadcast something on radio or television
[+ object]
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air a program
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The interview will be aired tomorrow.
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[no object]
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The program airs daily.
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The interview will air tomorrow.
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