air
/ɛɚ/ noun A2- The substance constituting Earth's atmosphere: a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and various trace gases. · This drill runs on compressed air.· As you ascend, the air gets thinner.
- The substance of the atmosphere seen as an agency of freshness. · I'm going outside to get some air.· Open the window and let some air into the room.
- One of the four elements of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- The surrounding ambience or mood; see also in the air. · The air was tense as the judge rose to deliver his verdict.
- A local environment or atmosphere, in the context of its effects on behavior, health, weather, etc. · There was a tension in the air which made me suspect an approaching storm.
- 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.
- The substance of the atmosphere on a planet other than Earth. · The air on Mars is very thin and consists mostly of carbon dioxide.
- A breeze; a gentle wind.
Plural airs
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
But soon she saw one of his ears sticking up through the hole, for the strong pressure of the air was keeping him up so that he could not fall.
There now came a sharp whistling in the air from the south, and as they turned their eyes that way they saw ripples in the grass coming from that direction also.
The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air.
In the middle of a cyclone the air is generally still, but the great pressure of the wind on every side of the house raised it up higher and higher, until it was at the very top of the cyclone; and there it remained and was carried miles and miles away as easily as you could carry a feather.
Other matches
Learn air in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.