air

A2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ˈɜː/ UK /ˈɛə̯/ See IPA manual

noun verb Freq #608

Meanings

1

noun
The mixture of gases we breathe and that surrounds the Earth.

She took a deep breath of fresh air.
2

noun
The space above the ground.

I caught the ball in the air.
3

noun
A particular quality or feeling that someone or something seems to have.

There was an air of mystery about the old house.
4

verb
To broadcast a programme on television or radio.

The show airs every weeknight at nine.
5

verb
To make your opinions or feelings publicly known.

They aired their views on the controversial plan.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 noun · a particular quality or... aura atmosphere

4 verb · to broadcast a programme on... broadcast

5 verb · to make your opinions or... publicize

More gasluftnimbus

Word family

Forms airedairingairs

Derived forms air-bathair-boxair-brakedair-breathingair-brushair-builtair-burstair-conair-conditionair-conditionedair-conditionerair-conditioning

Related forms aerateaero-aria

Common collocations

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)bor. Latin āēr Old French airbor. Middle English aire English air From Middle English aire, from Old French air, from Latin āēr, from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr). Displaced native Old English lyft. More at lift, loft.

*h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European aire Middle English air Old French āēr Latin ἀήρ Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction Media & Publishing

# air

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈɜː
**IPA (UK):** ˈɛə̯
**Frequency rank:** 608

## Meanings
1. The mixture of gases we breathe and that surrounds the Earth.
2. The space above the ground.
3. A particular quality or feeling that someone or something seems to have.
4. To broadcast a programme on television or radio.
5. To make your opinions or feelings publicly known.

## Examples
- She took a deep breath of fresh air.
- I caught the ball in the air.
- There was an air of mystery about the old house.
- The show airs every weeknight at nine.
- They aired their views on the controversial plan.

## Synonyms
- atmosphere
- aura
- gas
- luft
- nimbus

## Derived Forms
- air-bath
- air-box
- air-braked
- air-breathing
- air-brush
- air-built
- air-burst
- air-con
- air-condition
- air-conditioned
- air-conditioner
- air-conditioning

## Related Forms
- aerate
- aero-
- aria

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂ews-
- Root: aire
- Root: air
- Root: āēr
- Root: ἀήρ

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)bor. Latin āēr Old French airbor. Middle English aire English air From Middle English aire, from Old French air, from Latin āēr, from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr). Displaced native Old English lyft. More at lift, loft.

## AI Etymology
Air comes from Middle English aire, from Old French air, from Latin āēr, from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr). Displaced native Old English lyft. Compare lift, loft. The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews-.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Media & Publishing

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air

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