Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n, by N ] Air is used to refer to travel in aircraft. □  Air travel will continue to grow at about 6% per year. □  Casualties had to be brought to hospital by air.

4 N‑SING If you say that someone or something has a particular air , you mean that they give this general impression. □ [+ of ] Jennifer regarded him with an air of amusement.

5 N‑PLURAL If you say that someone is putting on airs or giving themselves airs , you are criticizing them for behaving as if they are better than other people. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □  We're poor and we never put on airs.

6 VERB If a broadcasting company airs a television or radio programme, they show it on television or broadcast it on the radio. [mainly AM ] □ [V n] Tonight PBS will air a documentary called 'Democracy In Action'. ●  air|ing N‑SING □ [+ of ] …the airing of offensive material.

7 VERB If you air your opinions, you make them known to people. □ [be V -ed] The whole issue was thoroughly aired at the meeting.

8 VERB If you air a room or building, you let fresh air into it. □ [V n] One day a week her mother systematically cleaned and aired each room.

9 VERB If you air clothing or bedding, you put it somewhere warm to make sure that it is completely dry.

10 PHRASE If you do something to clear the air , you do it in order to resolve any problems or disagreements that there might be. □  …an inquiry just to clear the air and settle the facts of the case.

11 PHRASE If something is in the air it is felt to be present, but it is not talked about. □  There was great excitement in the air.

12 PHRASE If someone is on the air , they are broadcasting on radio or television. If a programme is on the air , it is being broadcast on radio or television. If it is off the air , it is not being broadcast. □  She is going on the air as presenter of a new show. □  This message did not reach me until after the programme went off the air.

13 PHRASE If someone or something disappears into thin air , they disappear completely. If someone or something appears out of thin air , they appear suddenly and mysteriously. □  He had materialized out of thin air; I had not seen or heard him coming.

14 PHRASE If you say that a decision or a situation is up in the air , you mean that it has not yet been completely settled or planned. □  With his contract expiring during the summer, the defender's future is up in the air.

15 PHRASE If you say that you are walking on air or floating on air , you mean that you feel extremely happy about something. □  As soon as I know I'm in the team it's like I'm walking on air.

ai r a m|bu|lance (air ambulances ) N‑COUNT [oft by N ] An air ambulance is a helicopter or plane that is used for taking people to hospital.

air|bag /eə ^r bæg/ (airbags ) also air bag N‑COUNT An airbag is a safety device in a car which automatically fills with air if the car crashes, and is designed to protect the people in the car when they are thrown forward in the crash.

ai r base (air bases ) also airbase N‑COUNT An air base is a centre where military aircraft take off or land and are serviced, and where many of the centre's staff live.

air|bed /eə ^r bed/ (airbeds ) also air bed N‑COUNT An airbed is a plastic or rubber mattress which can be folded or stored flat and which you fill with air before you use it.

air|borne /eə ^r bɔː ^r n/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If an aircraft is airborne , it is in the air and flying. □  The pilot did manage to get airborne.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Airborne troops use parachutes to get into enemy territory. □  The allies landed thousands of airborne troops.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Airborne means in the air or carried in the air. □  Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.