AIR

noun airs · aire · ayre · eyr · ayr

1. uncountable The substance constituting Earth's atmosphere: a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and various trace gases. This drill runs on compressed air.
2. countable, uncountable The substance of the atmosphere seen as an agency of freshness. I'm going outside to get some air.
3. countable, historical, uncountable One of the four elements of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
4. countable, figuratively, uncountable The surrounding ambience or mood; see also in the air. The air was tense as the judge rose to deliver his verdict.
5. countable, historical, uncountable A local environment or atmosphere, in the context of its effects on behavior, health, weather, etc. 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 con
6. uncountable, usually The 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.
7. broadly, uncountable The substance of the atmosphere on a planet other than Earth. The air on Mars is very thin and consists mostly of carbon dioxide.
8. countable, uncountable A breeze; a gentle wind.
9. countable, uncountable A feeling or sense. I strode into the room with an important air.
10. countable, uncountable A sense of poise, graciousness, or quality. "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 neare
11. countable, plural normally, uncountable Pretension; snobbishness; pretence that one is better than others. putting on airs
12. countable, uncountable A melody or song, especially a solo; an aria. "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[…]"
13. countable, informal, uncountable Nothing; absence of anything.
14. countable, uncountable An air conditioning system. Could you turn on the air?
15. countable, obsolete, uncountable Any specific gas.
16. uncountable The state of being briefly airborne during a jump.
17. countable, uncountable A television or radio signal; (by extension) media broadcasts in general. 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.
18. uncountable Publicity.

Similar: atmosphere, aura, luft, nimbus, gas

verb airs · airing · aired · aire · ayre

1. transitive To 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. transitive To 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. transitive To 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.
4. transitive To broadcast (a television show etc.). The BBC decided not to air the controversial episode.
5. intransitive To be broadcast. This game show first aired in the 1990s and is still going today.
6. Multicultural London English, UK, slang, transitive To ignore (a person). Why is this girl airing me?

verb aire · ayre · eyr · ayr

1. pronunciation spelling Pronunciation spelling of are.are

proper noun

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