Topic: AIR
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Sense: 1-7, 9
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Latin aer, from Greek |
| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Origin: | Probably a translation of Italian aria; ARIA |
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air1 S1 W1
1 the mixture of gases around the Earth, that we breathe : You need to put some air in the tyres.
gas
[uncountable]You need to put some air in the tyres.➔ a breath of fresh air
at breath (2)3
planes
b) relating to or involving planes : the victims of Britain's worst air disaster
the victims of Britain's worst air disaster4
be in the air
a) if a feeling is in the air, a lot of people feel it at the same time : There was a sense of excitement in the air.
There was a sense of excitement in the air.b) to be going to happen very soon : Change is in the air.
Change is in the air.5 if something or someone has an air of confidence, mystery etc, they seem confident, mysterious etc She looked at him with a determined air.
appearance
[singular]She looked at him with a determined air.6 if something is up in the air, no decision has been made about it yet : Our trip is still very much up in the air.
be up in the air
Our trip is still very much up in the air.7 to be broadcasting on the radio or television at the present moment, or to stop broadcasting : We'll be on air in three minutes.
be on/off (the) air
TCBWe'll be on air in three minutes.8 a simple tune, often used in the title of a piece of classical music
music
[countable]9 a way of behaving that shows someone thinks they are more important than they really are
airs
[plural] ➔ hot air, on-air
