air

1 noun

1 GAS (U) the mixture of gases that we breathe and that surrounds the Earth: air pollution | There was a strong smell of burning in the air. | fresh air (=clean air): Let's go out and get some fresh air.

-see also: a breath of fresh air breath (2)

2 SPACE ABOVE/BELOW the space above the ground or around things through/into etc the air: He fell 2000 metres through the air without a parachute.

3 PLANES/FLYING

a) by air travelling by or using a plane: It's actually less expensive to go by air to San Francisco.

b) air travel/crash/industry etc involving or connected with planes and flying: the victims of Britain's worst air disaster

4 APPEARANCE if something or someone has an air of confidence, mystery etc, they seem confident, mysterious etc: She set about her task with an air of quiet confidence.

5 it's up in the air spoken used to say that something has not been decided yet

6 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 about 3 minutes.

7 airs (plural) a way of behaving in which someone tries to make themselves seem more important than they are: put on airs/give yourself airs: Trudy is always putting on airs and pretending she's posh. | airs and graces: Tristan, with his fancy education and his airs and graces.

8 in the air if a particular emotion is in the air, a lot of people seem to feel it at the same time: a sense of excitement in the air

9 MUSIC (C) a name given to a piece of music that means `tune'

-see also: hot air hot 1 (28), on-air, clear the air clear 2 (13), thin air thin 1 (15), walk on air walk 1 (14) 2 verb

1 CLOTHES (I, T) also air sth 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 on the washing-line to air.

2 ROOM (I, T) also air sth AmE to let fresh air into a room, especially one that has been closed for a long time

3 TV/RADIO (T) to broadcast a programme on television or radio

4 air your views/opinions etc to say publicly what you think about something important

5 air your grievances to tell other people about things that you think are unfair

-see also: airing