Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

ai r|ing cup|board (airing cupboards ) N‑COUNT In British houses, an airing cupboard is a warm cupboard where you put clothes and other things that have been washed and partly dried, to make sure they are completely dry.

air|less /eə ^r ləs/ ADJ If a place is airless , there is no fresh air in it. □  …a dark, airless room.

air|lift /eə ^r l I ft/ (airlifts , airlifting , airlifted )

1 N‑COUNT An airlift is an operation to move people, troops, or goods by air, especially in a war or when land routes are closed. □ [+ of ] The UK and the USA organized an airlift of supplies.

2 VERB If people, troops, or goods are airlifted somewhere, they are carried by air, especially in a war or when land routes are closed. □ [be V -ed + to ] The injured were airlifted to hospital in Prestwick.

air|line ◆◆◇ /eə ^r la I n/ (airlines ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An airline is a company which provides regular services carrying people or goods in aeroplanes. □  …the Dutch national airline KLM.

air|lin|er /eə ^r la I nə ^r / (airliners ) N‑COUNT An airliner is a large aeroplane that is used for carrying passengers.

air|lock /eə ^r lɒk/ (airlocks ) also air lock

1 N‑COUNT An airlock is a small room that is used to move between areas which do not have the same air pressure, for example in a spacecraft or submarine.

2 N‑COUNT An airlock is a bubble of air in a pipe that prevents liquid from flowing through.

air|mail /eə ^r me I l/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n, by N ] Airmail is the system of sending letters, parcels, and goods by air. □  …an airmail letter. □  Goods are generally shipped by airmail.

air|man /eə ^r mən/ (airmen ) N‑COUNT An airman is a man who flies aircraft, especially one who serves in his country's air force.

ai r miles N‑PLURAL Air miles are points that you collect when you buy certain goods or services and which you can use to pay for air travel.

ai r pis|tol (air pistols ) N‑COUNT An air pistol is a small gun which is fired by means of air pressure.

air|plane /eə ^r ple I n/ (airplanes ) N‑COUNT An airplane is a vehicle with wings and one or more engines that enable it to fly through the air. [AM ] in BRIT, use aeroplane

air|play /eə ^r ple I / N‑UNCOUNT The airplay which a piece of popular music receives is the number of times it is played on the radio. □  Our first single got a lot of airplay.

air|port ◆◆◇ /eə ^r pɔː ^r t/ (airports ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An airport is a place where aircraft land and take off, which has buildings and facilities for passengers. □  …Heathrow Airport, the busiest international airport in the world.

ai r|port no v|el (airport novels ) N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to long novels such as thrillers and romances that are written in a popular style as airport novels .

ai r|port tax (airport taxes ) N‑VAR Airport tax is a tax that airline passengers have to pay in order to use an airport. □  Overnight return flights cost from £349 including airport taxes.

ai r pow|er also airpower N‑UNCOUNT A nation's air power is the strength of its air force. □  We will use air power to protect U.N. peacekeepers if necessary.

ai r rage N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Air rage is aggressive or violent behaviour by airline passengers. □  Most air rage incidents involve heavy drinking.

ai r raid (air raids ) N‑COUNT [N n] An air raid is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is suffering the attack. □ [+ on ] …a series of daylight air raids on London by German bombers in 1917.

ai r ri|fle (air rifles ) N‑COUNT An air rifle is a rifle which is fired by means of air pressure.

air|ship /eə ^r ʃ I p/ (airships ) N‑COUNT An airship is an aircraft that consists of a large balloon which is filled with gas and is powered by an engine. It has a section underneath for passengers.