Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

air       (âr)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, mainly nitrogen (approximately 78 percent) and oxygen (approximately 21 percent) with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases. This mixture with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping the earth; the atmosphere. The sky; the firmament. A giant void; nothingness: The money vanished into thin air. Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances. The electronic broadcast media: "often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air" (Christian Science Monitor). A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range. A solo with or without accompaniment. The sky; the firmament. A giant void; nothingness: The money vanished into thin air. Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances. The electronic broadcast media: "often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air" (Christian Science Monitor). A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range. A solo with or without accompaniment. An atmospheric movement; a breeze or wind. Aircraft: send troops to Europe by air. Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances. The electronic broadcast media: "often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air" (Christian Science Monitor). A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range. A solo with or without accompaniment. A peculiar or characteristic impression; an aura. Personal bearing, appearance, or manner; mien. airs An affected, often haughty pose; affectation. See Synonyms at affectation. Music A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range. A solo with or without accompaniment. Air conditioning. Archaic Breath. v.   aired, air·ing, airs v.   tr. To expose so that air can dry, cool, or freshen; ventilate. To give vent to publicly: airing my pet peeves. See Synonyms at vent1. To broadcast on television or radio: "The ad was submitted to CBS . . . which accepted and aired it" (New York). v.   intr. To be broadcast on television or radio: "tidbits that will air on tonight's 6 o'clock news" (Terry Ann Knopf). adj.   Of or relating to the air or the movement of air: an air tube. Existing or living in the air; aerial. Powered by compressed air: an air horn. Containing or inflated by air. Of or relating to aircraft or aeronautics. Of or relating to the broadcast or transmission of radio or television signals. Imaginary or unreal: "The guy had just hit it big . . . after ten years of eating air sandwiches" (Jonathan Kellerman). [Partly from Middle English air, gas, atmosphere (from Old French, from Latin āēr, from Greek; see wer-1 in Indo-European roots) and partly from French air, nature, quality, place of origin (from Latin ager, place, field; see agriculture, and Latin ārea, open space, threshing floor; see area). N., sense 9, from French air, tune, from Italian aria; see aria.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
air  (1)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
air  (2)

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
air  (3)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

air
noun
1.	a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of; "air pollution"; "a smell of chemicals in the air"; "open a window and let in some air"; "I need some fresh air"
2.	the region above the ground; "her hand stopped in mid air"; "he threw the ball into the air"
3.	a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance"
4.	a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck" [syn: breeze]
5.	the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere"; "it was exposed to the air" [syn: atmosphere]
6.	once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
7.	a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven" [syn: tune]
8.	medium for radio and television broadcasting; "the program was on the air from 9 til midnight"; "the president used the airwaves to take his message to the people"
9.	travel via aircraft; "air travel involves too much waiting in airports"; "if you've time to spare go by air" [syn: air travel]
verb
1.	expose to fresh air; "aerate your old sneakers" [syn: air out]
2.	be broadcast; "This show will air Saturdays at 2 P.M."
3.	broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television; "We cannot air this X-rated song"
4.	make public; "She aired her opinions on welfare" [syn: publicize]
5.	expose to warm or heated air, so as to dry; "Air linen"
6.	expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen; "air the old winter clothes"; "air out the smoke-filled rooms" [syn: vent]

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

air

In addition to the idiom beginning with air, also see breath of fresh air; castles in the air; clear the air; give someone the air; hot air; in the air; into (out of) thin air; nose in the air; off the air; put on airs; up in the air; walk on air; wash (air) one's dirty linen.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

air       (âr)  Pronunciation Key  The colorless, odorless, tasteless mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. Air consists of about 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, with the remaining part made up mainly of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, and krypton in decreasing order of volume. Air also contains varying amounts of water vapor, particulate matter such as dust and soot, and chemical pollutants.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

air (âr)
n.

1. A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, approximately 78 percent nitrogen and approximately 21 percent oxygen with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
2. This mixture, with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping Earth; the atmosphere.
3. Any of various respiratory gases. No longer in technical use.

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

AIR standard
A future infrared standard from IrDA. AIR will provide in-room multipoint to multipoint connectivity. AIR supports a data rate of 4 Mbps at a distance of 4 metres, and 250 Kbps at up to 8 metres. It is designed for cordless connections to multiple peripherals and meeting room collaboration applications.
See also IrDA Data and IrDA Control
(1999-10-14)

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Reese Air Force, TX Zip code(s): 79489

Naval Air Statio, FL Zip code(s): 33040

Homestead Air Fo, FL Zip code(s): 33039

Holloman Air For, NM Zip code(s): 88330

Grissom Air Forc, IN Zip code(s): 46971

Fairchild Air Fo, WA Zip code(s): 99011

Bel Air South, MD (CDP, FIPS 5950) Location: 39.50403 N, 76.31810 W
Population (1990): 26421 (10296 housing units)
Area: 41.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Bel Air North, MD (CDP, FIPS 5825) Location: 39.55353 N, 76.37365 W
Population (1990): 14880 (5116 housing units)
Area: 42.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Air Force Academy, CO (CDP, FIPS 870) Location: 38.99045 N, 104.86014 W
Population (1990): 9062 (1280 housing units)
Area: 26.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Hill Air Force B, UT Zip code(s): 84056

Bel Air, MD (town, FIPS 5550) Location: 39.53460 N, 76.34691 W
Population (1990): 8860 (3860 housing units)
Area: 6.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 21014, 21015

Bon Air, VA (CDP, FIPS 8472) Location: 37.51980 N, 77.56906 W
Population (1990): 16413 (6252 housing units)
Area: 22.9 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 23235

Bon Air, AL (town, FIPS 8248) Location: 33.26132 N, 86.33805 W
Population (1990): 91 (44 housing units)
Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Cresaptown-Bel Air, MD (CDP, FIPS 20530) Location: 39.58819 N, 78.85886 W
Population (1990): 4586 (1847 housing units)
Area: 19.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Air

Air\ ([^a]r), n. [OE. air, eir, F. air, L. a["e]r, fr. Gr. 'ah`r, air, mist, for 'a[digamma]hr, fr. root 'a[digamma] to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. wind. In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. aria, or due to confusion with F. aire, in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. A["e]ry, Debonair, Malaria, Wind.]

1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable.

Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water.

2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. "Charm ache with air." --Shak.

He was still all air and fire. [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water.] --Macaulay .

3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, etc.

4. Any a["e]riform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital air. [Obs.]

5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind.

Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. --Pope.

6. Odoriferous or contaminated air.

7. That which surrounds and influences.

The keen, the wholesome air of poverty. --Wordsworth.

8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent.

You gave it air before me. --Dryden.

9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] --Bacon.

10. (Mus.) (a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria. (b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called the air.

11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien; demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. "His very air." --Shak.

12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner; style.

It was communicated with the air of a secret. --Pope.

12. pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. --Thackeray.

14. (Paint.) (a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. --New Am. Cyc. (b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. --Fairholt.

15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.

Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump.

Air balloon. See Balloon.

Air bath. (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature.

Air castle. See Castle in the air, under Castle.

Air compressor, a machine for compressing air to be used as a motive power.

Air crossing, a passage for air in a mine.

Air cushion, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a device for arresting motion without shock by confined air.

Air fountain, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the force of compressed air.

Air furnace, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not on blast.

Air line, a straight line; a bee line. Hence

Air-line, adj.; as, air-line road.

Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson. --Knight.

Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air.

Air spring, a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized.

Air thermometer, a form of thermometer in which the contraction and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature.

Air threads, gossamer.

Air trap, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap.

Air trunk, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from a room.

Air valve, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to enter.

Air way, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air pump; an air way in a mine.

In the air. (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air.

To take air, to be divulged; to be made public.

To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Air

Air\ ([^a]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired ([^a]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] [See Air, n., and cf. A[eum]rate.]

1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room.

It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. --Bacon.

Were you but riding forth to air yourself. --Shak.

2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion.

Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. --Tennyson.

3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Air

the atmosphere, as opposed to the higher regions of the sky (1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 9:2; 16:17). This word occurs once as the rendering of the Hebrew _ruah_ (Job 41:16); elsewhere it is the rendering of _shamaiyim_, usually translated "heavens." The expression "to speak into the air" (1 Cor. 14:9) is a proverb denoting to speak in vain, as to "beat the air" (1 Cor. 9:26) denotes to labour in vain.

American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

AIR American Institutes for Research