air

air¹ W1S1 [eə US er] n

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1¦(gas)¦

2¦(space above the ground)¦

3¦(planes)¦

4 be in the air

5¦(appearance)¦

6 be up in the air

7 be on/off (the) air

8¦(music)¦

9 airs

10 be walking/floating on air

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[Sense: 1-7, 9; Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: Latin aer, from Greek]

[Sense: 8; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably a translation of Italian aria; ARIA]

1.) ¦(GAS)¦[U]

the mixture of gases around the Earth, that we breathe

▪ You need to put some air in the tyres.

in the air

▪ There was a strong smell of burning in the air.

▪ Let's go outside and get some fresh air.

▪ public opposition to air pollution

→a breath of fresh air at ↑breath

2.) ¦(SPACE ABOVE THE GROUND)¦

the air

the space above the ground or around things

into the air

▪ Flames leapt into the air.

through the air

▪ He fell 2000 metres through the air without a parachute.

3.) ¦(PLANES)¦

a) by air

travelling by, or using a plane

▪ I'd prefer to travel by air.

b) relating to or involving planes

▪ the victims of Britain's worst air disaster

▪ Air travel was growing rapidly.

▪ air traffic congestion

▪ His brother died in an air crash .

4.) be in the air

a) if a feeling is in the air, a lot of people feel it at the same time

▪ There was a sense of excitement in the air.

b) to be going to happen very soon

▪ Change is in the air.

5.) ¦(APPEARANCE)¦ [singular]

if something or someone has an air of confidence, mystery etc, they seem confident, mysterious etc

air of

▪ She had an air of quiet confidence.

▪ She looked at him with a determined air.

6.) be up in the air

if something is up in the air, no decision has been made about it yet

▪ Our trip is still very much up in the air.

7.) be on/off (the) air

to be broadcasting on the radio or television at the present moment, or to stop broadcasting

▪ We'll be on air in three minutes.

8.) ¦(MUSIC)¦

a simple tune, often used in the title of a piece of ↑classical music

9.) airs [plural]

a way of behaving that shows someone thinks they are more important than they really are

put on airs/give yourself airs

▪ Trudy is always putting on airs.

▪ an actor with no airs and graces

10.) be walking/floating on air

to feel very happy

→↑hot air, ↑on-air,clear the air at ↑clear² (15), disappear/vanish into thin air at ↑thin¹ (15), out of thin air at ↑thin¹ (16)

air ²

air² v

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1¦(opinion)¦

2¦(tv/radio)¦

3¦(room)¦

4¦(clothes)¦

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1.) ¦(OPINION)¦ [T]

to express your opinions publicly

air your views/grievances/complaints etc

▪ Staff will get a chance to ask questions and air their views.

2.) ¦(TV/RADIO)¦ [I and T]

to broadcast a programme on television or radio

▪ KPBS airs such popular children's programs as 'Barney' and 'Sesame Street'.

▪ The program is due to air next month.

3.) ¦(ROOM)¦ [T]

especially BrE air sth out AmE

to let fresh air into a room, especially one that has been closed for a long time

4.) ¦(CLOTHES)¦ [I and T]

especially BrE air (sth) out AmE

to put a piece of clothing in a place that is warm or has a lot of air, so that it smells clean

▪ I've left my sweater outside to air.

→↑airing

→air your dirty laundry at ↑dirty¹ (7)