air

plural airs · alternative obsolete aire · alternative obsolete ayre · alternative obsolete eyr · alternative especially ayr

1. uncountableThe substance constituting Earth's atmosphere: a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and various trace gases.

   This drill runs on compressed air.

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   As you ascend, the air gets thinner.

   1. countableuncountableThe substance of the atmosphere seen as an agency of freshness.

      I'm going outside to get some air.

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      Open the window and let some air into the room.

   2. countablehistoricaluncountablealchemyOne of the four elements of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

      Synonyms: wind

   3. countablefigurativelyuncountableThe surrounding ambience or mood; see also in the air.

      The air was tense as the judge rose to deliver his verdict.

   4. countablehistoricaluncountablemedicineA local environment or atmosphere, in the context of its effects on behavior, health, weather, etc.

      There was a tension in the air which made me suspect an approaching storm.

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      Jeeves: Foreign travel often liberates emotions best kept in check, sir. The air of North America is notoriously stimulating in this regard, as witness the regrettable behavior of its inhabitants in 1776. B. Wooster: Hm? What happened in 1776, Jeeves? Jeeves: I prefer not to dwell on it, if it's convenient to you, sir.

      1991 May 12, “Kidnapped!”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 2, Episode 5

2. uncountableusuallyThe apparently open space above the ground which this substance fills, (historical) formerly thought to be limited by the firmament but (meteorology) now considered to be surrounded by the near-vacuum of outer space.

   The flock of birds took to the air.

3. broadlyuncountableThe substance of the atmosphere on a planet other than Earth.

   The air on Mars is very thin and consists mostly of carbon dioxide.

4. countableuncountableA breeze; a gentle wind.
5. countableuncountableA feeling or sense.

   He spoke with an air of finality.

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   I strode into the room with an important air.

   to give it an air of artistry and sophistication

   The girl stooped to pluck a rose, and as she bent over it, her profile was clearly outlined. She held the flower to her face with a long-drawn inhalation, then went up the steps, crossed the piazza, opened the door without knocking, and entered the house with the air of one thoroughly at home.

   1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC

   Even at the busiest periods, an air of quiet orderliness pervades the hall, and the first impression gained by the traveller is one of efficiency, neatness and cleanliness.

   1951 October, H. A. Vallance, “Across Denmark by Lyntog”, in Railway Magazine, page 658

   But the dull, cool, calculating effect given cumulatively through Stalin’s long career, the air of a great glacier moving slowly and by the easiest path to overwhelm some Alpine valley, is only part of the picture. At various times - and especially in his early career - the calm of his general manner was broken, and expression given to the driving emotions that possessed him.

   1968, Robert Conquest, “The Purge Begins”, in The Great Terror: Stalin's Purge of the Thirties, Macmillan Company, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 77

   1. countableuncountableA sense of poise, graciousness, or quality.

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      "He is very plain, undoubtedly—remarkably plain:—but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air. I had imagined him, I confess, a degree or two nearer gentility."

      1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 4, in Emma: […], volume I, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC

   2. countableplural normallyuncountablePretension; snobbishness; pretence that one is better than others.

      putting on airs

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      He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.

      1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

6. countableuncountableentertainmentA melody or song, especially a solo; an aria.

   The lad, his son, had obtained a Jew's-harp, and learned to play upon it the profane airs of "Yankee Doodle," "Hail Columbia," "St. Patrick's Day," and "Auld Lang Syne."

   1850, T. S. Arthur, “Deacon Smith and his Violin”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 70

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   "If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman[…]"

   1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

7. countableinformaluncountableNothing; absence of anything.
8. countableuncountableAn air conditioning system.

   Could you turn on the air?

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   Hey, did you mean to leave the airs on all week while you were on vacation?

9. countableobsoleteuncountableAny specific gas.
10. uncountablemotor sportshobbiesThe state of being briefly airborne during a jump.
11. countableuncountableA television or radio signal; (by extension) media broadcasts in general.

    Coming to you live once a month, or whenever I feel like broadcasting a little pirate air.

    2001, Dana Stabenow, The Singing of the Dead, →ISBN, page 17

    2 more examples

    Ernst gave a list of political activists who had been denied access to the air by private broadcasters, and pointed out that "Secretary Hoover's signature in New York sells for $150,000 to $200,000," thus limiting access to the air on the part of labor unions and other underrepresented groups.

    1996, Thomas Streeter, Selling the Air, →ISBN

    “These members need air cover in the media.” Paid media is the admission ticket to enter the big-time Washington stage.

    2015, Gary Andres, Paul Hernnson, Lobbying Reconsidered: Politics Under the Influence, page 149

12. uncountablePublicity.

present singular third person airs · participle present airing · participle past aired · past aired · alternative obsolete aire · alternative obsolete ayre · alternative obsolete eyr · alternative especially ayr

1. transitiveTo bring (something) into contact with the air, so as to freshen or dry it.

   I'll hang these clothes on the rack to air them.

2. transitiveTo let fresh air into (a room or a building), to ventilate.

   It's getting quite stuffy in this room: let's open the windows and air it.

3. transitiveTo make public (an opinion, concern, issue, secret, differences, etc); to present to public view (and sometimes discussion).

   Residents used the public meeting to air their concerns about the poor state of the roads.

   2 more examples

   John Mayer has apologised for using a racist epithet in a recent interview with Playboy magazine, after a number of prominent black musicians aired their disapproval.

   2010 February 11, Rosie Swash, “John Mayer apologises after using N-word in Playboy interview”, in The Guardian

   Thus, in spite of all opposition, the rural and urban assemblies retained the germ of local government, and in spite of the dual control, as the result of which much of their influence was nullified, they did have a certain value in airing abuses and suggesting improvements.

   1917, National Geographic, v.31, March 1917

4. transitiveTo broadcast (a television show etc.).

   The BBC decided not to air the controversial episode.

5. intransitiveTo be broadcast.

   This game show first aired in the 1990s and is still going today.

6. Multicultural London EnglishUKslangtransitiveTo ignore (a person).

   Why is this girl airing me?

alternative obsolete aire · alternative obsolete ayre · alternative obsolete eyr · alternative especially ayr

1. pronunciation spellingPronunciation spelling of are.

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of All India Radio, the national public radio broadcaster of India.
2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of American Institutes for Research, a nonprofit research organization in the United States.
3. rail transportThe station code of Airport in Hong Kong.
4. IndiaabbreviationinitialismInitialism of All India Rank.