air noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of air noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

air

noun
 
 
/eə(r)/
 
/er/
Idioms
jump to other results

    gas

  1.  
    [uncountable] the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe
    • Let's go out for some fresh air.
    • a blast of hot air
    • currents of warm air
    • He stood outside, breathing the cold night air.
    • She was gasping for air as she ran out of the burning house.
    • whales coming up for air (= in order to breathe)
    • I need to put some air in my tyres.
    • The agreement requires reductions in air pollution.
    • The Act lays down a minimum standard for air quality.
    Homophones air | heirair   heir
     
    /eə(r)/
     
    /er/
    • air noun
      • I kicked the ball high into the air.
    • air verb
      • I opened the window to air the room.
    • heir noun
      • He left most of his property to his eldest son and heir.
    see also sea air
    Extra Examples
    • He drew in another breath of air.
    • I sat for a moment, inhaling the fresh forest air.
    • It's difficult carrying such heavy loads in the thin air of the mountains.
    • Land crabs breathe air and cannot swim.
    • The cool night air wafted in the open windows.
    • There are regulatory requirements for clean air and water.
    • We felt a blast of cold air as she opened the door.
    • the musty smell of stale air
    • the polluted air of our cities
    • warm currents of air
    • Nothing moved in the still air.
    Topics The environmenta1, Weathera1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • hot
    • warm
    • chill
    • …
    … of air
    • blast
    • gust
    • rush
    • …
    verb + air
    • breathe
    • breathe in
    • gulp in
    • …
    air + verb
    • blow
    • circulate
    • flow
    • …
    air + noun
    • pollution
    • quality
    • pressure
    • …
    preposition
    • in the air
    • into the air
    • through the air
    • …
    phrases
    • in the open air
    See full entry
    2.

    space

  2.  
     [uncountable]
    (usually the air)
    the space above the ground or that is around things
    • Music filled the night air.
    • in/into the air Wave your hands in the air!
    • I kicked the ball high into the air.
    • through the air Spicy smells wafted through the air.
    • He punched the air in triumph.
    • The air was thick with cigarette smoke.
    see also big air, mid-air, mid-air, open air
    Extra Examples
    • The tang of some wild herb hung in the air.
    • Suddenly a scream pierced the air.
    • The air was sweet with incense.
    • The dog stretched and sniffed the air.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • hot
    • warm
    • chill
    • …
    … of air
    • blast
    • gust
    • rush
    • …
    verb + air
    • breathe
    • breathe in
    • gulp in
    • …
    air + verb
    • blow
    • circulate
    • flow
    • …
    air + noun
    • pollution
    • quality
    • pressure
    • …
    preposition
    • in the air
    • into the air
    • through the air
    • …
    phrases
    • in the open air
    See full entry
    3.

    for planes

  3.  
     [uncountable] the space above the earth where planes fly
    • The temple was clearly visible from the air.
    • We watched as the helicopter took to the air.
    • by air It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane).
    • air travel/traffic
    • air defence systems (= weapons that defend against attacks from the air)
    • A surprise air attack (= from aircraft) was launched at night.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryair + noun
    • travel
    • fare
    • traffic
    • …
    preposition
    • by air
    • from the air
    See full entry
    4.

    impression

  4. [singular] the particular feeling or impression that is given by somebody/something; the way somebody does something
    • She looked at him with a defiant air.
    • air of something The room had an air of luxury.
    • There was an air of complete confidence about her.
    Extra Examples
    • He had an air of mystery about him.
    • He leaned over to Melissa with an air of confidentiality.
    • You have an air of authority.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + air
    • have
    • retain
    • add
    • …
    preposition
    • with an/​the air
    • air of
    See full entry
    5.

    tune

  5. [countable] (old-fashioned) (often used in the title of a piece of music) a tune
    • Bach’s Air on a G string
    Topics Musicc2

    6. behaviour

  6. airs
     [plural] (disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that somebody thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are
    • I hate the way she puts on airs.
    7. see also hot air
    Word OriginMiddle English (in senses (1-3) of noun): from Old French air, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr, denoting the gas. Senses 4 and 6 () of the noun are from French air, probably from Old French aire ‘site, disposition’, from Latin ager, agr- ‘field’ (influenced by senses 1-3). Sense (5) of the noun comes from Italian aria, from Latin aer ‘air’.
Idioms
airs and graces
  1. (British English, disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that somebody thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are synonym airs
    • Even when he became a star he didn’t have any airs and graces.
a breath of (fresh) air
  1. clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere
    • We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
    • I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air.
    Topics Health and Fitnessc2
(build) castles in the air
  1. (to have) plans or dreams that are not likely to happen or come true
    • As a child he would wander round the boatyards, building castles in the air about owning a boat one day.
clear the air
  1. to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.
    • This meeting will be an opportunity to clear the air and start the healing process.
  2. to make the air less dirty or less humid (= warm and wet)
    • Storms were supposed to clear the air.
disappear, vanish, etc. into thin air
  1. to disappear suddenly in a mysterious way
    • She can’t just have vanished into thin air.
    • At a stroke she could make things vanish into thin air.
finger in the air
  1. (informal) used to refer to an estimate or method of doing something that is not very accurate or scientific and partly based on guessing
    • It isn’t an exact science—it’s a kind of finger in the air thing.
    • ‘It’s all a bit finger in the air,’ admitted a spokesman.
    Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc2
float/walk on air
  1. to feel very happy
    • Most couples feel they are walking on air on their wedding day.
    Topics Feelingsc2
in the air
  1. felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening
    • There's romance in the air.
on/off (the) air
  1. broadcasting or not broadcasting on television or radio
    • We will be back on air tomorrow morning at 7.
    • The programme was taken off the air over the summer.
    Topics TV, radio and newsc2
out of thin air
  1. from nowhere or nothing, as if by magic
    • Unfortunately, I can’t just conjure up the money out of thin air!
pluck something out of the air
  1. to say a name, number, etc. without thinking about it, especially in answer to a question
    • I just plucked a figure out of the air and said : ‘Would £1 000 seem reasonable to you?’
up in the air
  1. not yet decided
    • Our travel plans are still up in the air.
with your nose in the air
  1. (informal) in a way that is not friendly and suggests that you think that you are better than other people
    • She walked in with her nose in the air, ignoring everyone.
See air in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee air in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: air

Nearby words

halfway
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day