air

(âr)

1. a. A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, mainly nitrogen (approximately 78 percent) and oxygen (approximately 21 percent) with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
   b. This mixture with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping the earth; the atmosphere.
2. a. The sky; the firmament.
   b. A giant void; nothingness: The money vanished into thin air.
3. An atmospheric movement; a breeze or wind.
4. Aircraft: send troops to Europe by air.
5. a. Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances.
   b. The electronic broadcast media: “often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air” (Christian Science Monitor).
6. A peculiar or characteristic impression; an aura.
7. Personal bearing, appearance, or manner; mien.
8. airs An affected, often haughty pose; affectation. See Synonyms at affectation.
9. Music
   a. A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range.
   b. A solo with or without accompaniment.
10. Air conditioning.
11. Archaic Breath.

1. To expose so that air can dry, cool, or freshen; ventilate.
2. To give vent to publicly: airing my pet peeves. See Synonyms at vent¹.
3. To broadcast on television or radio: “The ad was submitted to CBS . . . which accepted and aired it” (New York).

1. Of or relating to the air or the movement of air: an air tube.
2. Existing or living in the air; aerial.
3. Powered by compressed air: an air horn.
4. Containing or inflated by air.
5. Of or relating to aircraft or aeronautics.
6. Of or relating to the broadcast or transmission of radio or television signals.
7. Imaginary or unreal: “The guy had just hit it big . . . after ten years of eating air sandwiches” (Jonathan Kellerman).