- air
- air1 [ er ] noun ***1. ) uncount the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth and that we breathe:Do we really want all these cars polluting the air?She breathed in the cold air.I'd like to open the window, I need some air.Inside the house the air smelled like fresh paint.a blast/rush/draft/gust of air (=a current of moving air): A blast of cold air swept through the house.a ) the air the space around things and above the ground:They threw their hats up into the air.The baby waved its legs in the air.birds flying through the air2. ) singular a feeling or attitude that someone has:air of: She spoke with her usual air of authority.a ) the feeling that a place or situation gives you:The overgrown lawn gave the house a neglected air.air of: There was an air of gloom about the whole trial.3. ) airs plural behavior that is not natural and relaxed, by someone who wants to impress people and seem important:put on airs: My friends are people I trust, and I don't have to put on airs with them.4. ) count OLD-FASHIONED a piece of music that has a simple tunebe up in the airif a plan is up in the air, you have not yet decided what will happen:Our vacation plans are still up in the air.by airtraveling by or using airplanes:The flowers are sent all over the country by air.something is in the airused for saying that people all have a similar feeling, especially a feeling that something exciting or new is happening:There was a feeling in the air that it was time for a change.Spring is in the air.into/out of thin airif someone or something disappears into thin air or appears out of thin air, they disappear or appear in a sudden and mysterious way:When I looked around he seemed to have vanished into thin air.It just happened, out of thin air.off the air/off airnot broadcasting on radio or television anymore:Wait till we're off air (=stopped being broadcast).After just three episodes the series was taken off the air.on the air/on airon radio or television:The program first went on the air 28 years ago.He's always prepared to defend his case on air.take the air OLD-FASHIONEDto go outside for a walk, ride, or drivetake to the airto begin to flywalking/floating on airextremely happy=> CLEAR 2, FRESH AIR, HOT AIR, OPEN AIRairair 2 [ er ] verb1. ) transitive to broadcast something on the radio or on television:Many viewers were shocked when the TV news aired graphic footage of the war.The show was first aired in 1978.2. ) transitive to say in public what your opinions or complaints about something are:In an interview, the singer aired his views on family life.We hold meetings where residents' problems can be aired.air your grievances (=complain): Employees should be given the opportunity to air their grievances.3. ) air or air out intransitive or transitive if you air a place or it airs, you open the doors and windows to let fresh air ina ) if you air clothes, sheets, etc. or they air, you put them in warm or moving air until they are completely dry and smell clean,air `out phrasal verb transitive AMERICANsame as AIR 2 3
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.