Definition of "air"

air¹

/ɛə̯/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural airs
1. (uncountable, meteorology) The substance constituting Earth's atmosphere, particularly:
  1. (historical, philosophy, alchemy) understood as one of the four elements of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
  2. (historical, medicine) understood as a particular local substance with supposed effects on human health.
    Quotations
    Jeeves: Foreign travel often liberates emotions best kept in check, sir. The air of North America is notoriously stimulating in this regard, as witness the regrettable behavior of its inhabitants in 1776.B. Wooster: Hm? What happened in 1776, Jeeves?Jeeves: I prefer not to dwell on it, if it's convenient to you, sir.
    1991 May 12, “Kidnapped!”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 2, Episode 5
  3. (physics) understood as a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and various trace gases.
2. (usually with the) 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.
3. A breeze; a gentle wind.
4. A feeling or sense.
  Quotations
  Smalling’s quick one-two of yellow cards towards the end of the first half had left an air of inevitability about what would follow and, if anything, it was probably a surprise that City restricted themselves to Sergio Agüero’s goal bearing in mind another of United’s defenders, Marcos Rojo, was taken off on a stretcher early in the second half with a dislocated shoulder.
  November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
  The girl stooped to pluck a rose, and as she bent over it, her profile was clearly outlined. She held the flower to her face with a long-drawn inhalation, then went up the steps, crossed the piazza, opened the door without knocking, and entered the house with the air of one thoroughly at home.
  1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […]
5. A sense of poise, graciousness, or quality.
  Quotations
  "He is very plain, undoubtedly—remarkably plain:—but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air. I had imagined him, I confess, a degree or two nearer gentility."
  1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 4, in Emma: […], volume I, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray
6. (usually in the plural) Pretension; snobbishness; pretence that one is better than others.
  Quotations
  He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.
  1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest‎
7. (music) A song, especially a solo; an aria.
  Quotations
  "If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman […] "
  1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […]
  The lad, his son, had obtained a Jew's-harp, and learned to play upon it the profane airs of "Yankee Doodle," "Hail Columbia," "St. Patrick's Day," and "Auld Lang Syne."
  1850, T. S. Arthur, “Deacon Smith and his Violin”, in Sketches of Life and Character‎, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, page 70
8. (informal) Nothing; absence of anything.
9. (countable, uncountable) An air conditioner or the processed air it produces.
10. (obsolete, chemistry) Any specific gas.
11. (snowboarding, skateboarding, motor sports) A jump in which one becomes airborne.
12. (by extension) media broadcasts in general.
  Quotations
  Ernst gave a list of political activists who had been denied access to the air by private broadcasters, and pointed out that "Secretary Hoover's signature in New York sells for $150,000 to $200,000," thus limiting access to the air on the part of labor unions and other underrepresented groups.
  1996, Thomas Streeter, Selling the Air
  Coming to you live once a month, or whenever I feel like broadcasting a little pirate air.
  2001, Dana Stabenow, The Singing of the Dead, page 17
  “These members need air cover in the media.” Paid media is the admission ticket to enter the big-time Washington stage.
  2015, Gary Andres, Paul Hernnson, Lobbying Reconsidered: Politics Under the Influence, page 149
13. (uncountable) Publicity.
verb
third-person singular simple present airs, present participle airing, simple past and past participle aired
1. (transitive) To bring (something) into contact with the air, so as to freshen or dry it.
2. (transitive) To let fresh air into (a room or a building), to ventilate.
3. (transitive) To give voice to, to make public (an opinion etc.).
  Quotations
  John Mayer has apologised for using a racist epithet in a recent interview with Playboy magazine, after a number of prominent black musicians aired their disapproval.
  2010 February 11, Rosie Swash, “John Mayer apologises after using N-word in Playboy interview”, in The Guardian‎
4. To discuss varying viewpoints on a given topic.
  Quotations
  Thus, in spite of all opposition, the rural and urban assemblies retained the germ of local government, and in spite of the dual control, as the result of which much of their influence was nullified, they did have a certain value in airing abuses and suggesting improvements.
  1917, National Geographic, v.31, March 1917
5. (transitive) To broadcast (a television show etc.).
6. (intransitive) To be broadcast.
7. (transitive, Britain, MLE, slang) To ignore (a person).

air²

/ɛə̯/

verb
1. Pronunciation spelling of are.