air1

[air] /ɛər/
noun
1.
a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere.
2.
a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze.
3.
overhead space; sky:
The planes filled the air.
4.
circulation; publication; publicity:
to give air to one's theories.
5.
the general character or complexion of anything; appearance:
His early work had an air of freshness and originality.
6.
the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person:
There is an air of mystery about him.
7.
airs, affected or unnatural manner; manifestation of pride or vanity; assumed haughtiness:
He acquired airs that were insufferable to his friends.
8.
Music.
  1. a tune; melody.
  2. the soprano or treble part.
  3. an aria.
  4. Also, ayre. an Elizabethan art song.
9.
aircraft as a means of transportation:
to arrive by air; to ship goods by air.
10.
Informal. air conditioning or an air-conditioning system:
The price includes tires, radio, and air.
11.
Radio. the medium through which radio waves are transmitted.
12.
Archaic. breath.
verb (used with object)
13.
to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often followed by out):
We air the bedrooms every day.
14.
to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display:
to air one's opinions; to air one's theories.
15.
to broadcast or televise.
verb (used without object)
16.
to be exposed to the open air (often followed by out):
Open the window and let the room air out.
17.
to be broadcast or televised.
adjective
18.
operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air:
an air drill; an air pump.
19.
of or pertaining to aircraft or to aviation:
air industry.
20.
taking place in the air; aerial:
air war.
Idioms
21.
clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc.:
The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.
22.
get the air, Informal.
  1. to be rejected, as by a lover.
  2. to be dismissed, as by an employer:
    He had worked only a few days when he got the air.
23.
give (someone) the air, Informal.
  1. to reject, as a lover:
    He was bitter because she gave him the air.
  2. to dismiss, as an employee.
24.
in the air, in circulation; current:
There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.
25.
into thin air, completely out of sight or reach:
He vanished into thin air.
26.
off the air,
  1. not broadcasting:
    The station goes off the air at midnight.
  2. not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast:
    The program went off the air years ago.
  3. (of a computer) not in operation.
27.
on the air,
  1. in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast:
    The program will be going on the air in a few seconds.
  2. (of a computer) in operation.
28.
put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner:
As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.
29.
take the air,
  1. to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.
  2. Slang. to leave, especially hurriedly.
  3. to begin broadcasting.
30.
up in the air,
  1. Also, in the air. undecided or unsettled:
    The contract is still up in the air.
  2. Informal. angry; perturbed:
    There is no need to get up in the air over a simple mistake.
31.
walk / tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English eir < Old French air < Latin āēr- (accusative āerem) < Greek āer- (stem of āḗr) the lower atmosphere; conflated with (especially for defs 4 and 5) French air, Old French aire nature, character < Latin ager field (cf. acre) and ārea threshing floor, clearing, area; and with (for def 7) French air < Italian aria aria
Related forms
airlike, adjective
unaired, adjective
well-aired, adjective
Synonyms
2. See wind1 . 5, 6. impression, aspect. 6. aura, demeanor, attitude. See manner1 .
British Dictionary definitions for in the air

air

/ɛə/
noun
1.
the mixture of gases that forms the earth's atmosphere. At sea level dry air has a density of 1.226 kilograms per cubic metre and consists of 78.08 per cent nitrogen, 20.95 per cent oxygen, 0.93 per cent argon, 0.03 per cent carbon dioxide, with smaller quantities of ozone and inert gases; water vapour varies between 0 and 4 per cent and in industrial areas sulphur gases may be present as pollutants
2.
the space above and around the earth; sky related adjective aerial
3.
breeze; slight wind
4.
public expression; utterance: to give air to one's complaints
5.
a distinctive quality: an air of mystery
6.
a person's distinctive appearance, manner, or bearing
7.
(music)
  1. a simple tune for either vocal or instrumental performance
  2. another word for aria
8.
transportation in aircraft (esp in the phrase by air)
9.
an archaic word for breath (sense 1), breath (sense 2), breath (sense 3)
10.
(Austral, informal) the height gained when getting airborne in surfing, snowboarding, etc
11.
clear the air, to rid a situation of tension or discord by settling misunderstandings, etc
12.
(slang) give someone the air, to reject or dismiss someone
13.
in the air
  1. in circulation; current
  2. in the process of being decided; unsettled
14.
into thin air, leaving no trace behind
15.
off the air, not in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
16.
on the air, in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
17.
out of thin air, from thin air, suddenly and unexpectedly
18.
take the air, to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride
19.
up in the air
  1. uncertain
  2. (informal) agitated or excited
20.
walk on air, to feel elated or exhilarated
21.
(modifier) (astrology) of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius Compare earth (sense 10), fire (sense 24), water (sense 12)
verb
22.
to expose or be exposed to the air so as to cool or freshen; ventilate: to air a room
23.
to expose or be exposed to warm or heated air so as to dry: to air linen
24.
(transitive) to make known publicly; display; publicize: to air one's opinions
25.
(intransitive) (of a television or radio programme) to be broadcast
See also airs
Word Origin
C13: via Old French and Latin from Greek aēr the lower atmosphere

AIR

abbreviation
1.
All India Radio

Aïr

/ˈɑːɪə/
noun
1.
a mountainous region of N central Niger, in the Sahara, rising to 1500 m (5000 ft): a former native kingdom. Area: about 77 700 sq km (30 000 sq miles) Also called Azbine, Asben
Word Origin and History for in the air

air

n.

c.1300, "invisible gases that make up the atmosphere," from Old French air "atmosphere, breeze, weather" (12c.), from Latin aerem (nominative aer) "air, lower atmosphere, sky," from Greek aer (genitive aeros) "air" (related to aenai "to blow, breathe"), of unknown origin, possibly from a base *awer- and thus related to aeirein "to raise" and arteria "windpipe, artery" (see aorta) on notion of "lifting, that which rises." In Homer mostly "thick air, mist;" later "air" as one of the four elements.

Words for "air" in Indo-European languages tend to be associated with wind, brightness, sky. In English, air Replaced native lyft, luft (see loft (n.)). To be in the air "in general awareness" is from 1875; up in the air "uncertain, doubtful" is from 1752. To build castles in the air is from 1590s (in 17c. English had airmonger "one preoccupied with visionary projects"). Broadcasting sense (e.g. on the air) first recorded 1927. To give (someone) the air "dismiss" is from 1900. Air pollution is attested by 1870.

1590s, "manner, appearance" (e.g. an air of mystery); 1650s, "assumed manner, affected appearance" (especially in phrase put on airs, 1781), from French air "look, appearance, mien, bearing, tone" (Old French aire "reality, essence, nature, descent, extraction," 12c.; cf. debonair), from Latin ager "place, field" (see acre) on notion of "place of origin."

But some French sources connect this Old French word with the source of air (n.1), and it also is possible these senses in English developed from or were influenced by air (n.1); cf. sense development of atmosphere and Latin spiritus "breath, breeze," also "high spirit, pride," and the extended senses of anima.

"melody, tune," 1580s, from Italian aria (see aria).

v.

"to expose to open air," 1520s, from air (n.1). Figurative sense of "to expose, make public" is from 1610s of objects, 1862 of opinions, grievances, etc. Meaning "to broadcast" (originally on radio) is from 1933. Related: Aired; airing.

in the air in Medicine

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.

in the air in Science
air
  (âr)   
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.
Slang definitions & phrases for in the air

in the air

Related Terms

a bear in the air


air

verb

To broadcast by radio or television: toair a new miniseries

Related Terms

a bear in the air, dance on air, full of hot air, get the air, give someone the air, go up in the air, grab a handful of air, hot air, suck air, up in the air


Related Abbreviations for in the air

AIR

American Institutes for Research
in the air in the Bible

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.

Idioms and Phrases with in the air

in the air

In addition to the following idiom also see:

in the air

.
In circulation, in people's thoughts. For example, There's a rumor in the air that they're closing, or Christmas is in the air. [ Second half of 1800s ]
Also see: in the wind
.
See up in the air [ Mid-1700s ]

air

In addition to the idiom beginning with
air
also see: