air
air — noun
1. the invisible blend of gases — mostly oxygen with nitrogen — which covers our pl
the invisible blend of gases — mostly oxygen with nitrogen — which covers our planet and which living creatures must pull into the lungs in order to stay alive.
Sven opened the kitchen window to let in some fresh air.
collocation: fresh air
The factory near our school pumps dirty smoke into the air.
collocation: into the air
Children at the daycare need clean air to stay healthy.
After climbing the steps, Grandpa stopped to catch his breath in the cool morning air.
- atmosphere
more scientific or technical, refers to the whole layer of gas around Earth
- oxygen
only the gas we breathe in, not the full mixture
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. Use 'the air' when speaking about the air around you in a specific place.
常見錯誤
2. the open empty area up above us — for example, where birds fly past a window or
the open empty area up above us — for example, where birds fly past a window or a thrown ball travels before it lands.
When the team scored, Ines threw her cap high into the air.
into the air after a verb of throwing
A flock of geese passed over the lake, low in the air.
The kite from Mei's birthday gift stayed in the air for almost an hour.
Heavy black smoke rose into the air above the burning warehouse.
- ground
the surface of the Earth below us
文法句型
into the air
in the air
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (the gas itself): here the focus is on the open space above ground, not on what we breathe.
3. the height that a player or athlete reaches above the ground when jumping or sen
the height that a player or athlete reaches above the ground when jumping or sending a ball upward, often used in sports talk.
The young snowboarder caught huge air off the ramp at the X Games.
informal sports collocation: catch + air
Eitan's serve got plenty of air before dropping just inside the line.
get + air for ball flight
Skateboarders practise for hours to get more air on every jump.
The basketball player got so much air that his head almost reached the rim.
文法句型
get + air
catch + air
用法筆記
Mainly informal sports register (skateboarding, snowboarding, basketball). Often used with 'get', 'catch', or 'big/huge'.
4. the way of moving people or goods by using planes or other aircraft, rather than
the way of moving people or goods by using planes or other aircraft, rather than by road, ship, or rail.
The fresh tuna from Hokkaido was sent to Taipei by air the same morning.
by air for transport method
Travel by air has become much cheaper since low-cost airlines arrived in Asia.
travel by air as a noun phrase
The medical team reached the small island by air within two hours.
Companies often ship urgent parts by air to avoid long sea delays.
文法句型
by air
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'by air'. Distinguish from sense 2: here the meaning is the method of travel, not the physical space above ground.
常見錯誤
5. a particular feeling, mood, or quality that a person, place, or thing seems to g
a particular feeling, mood, or quality that a person, place, or thing seems to give out — for example, a quiet street that feels mysterious, or a guest who looks confident.
The old library on Hill Road has an air of mystery, even on sunny afternoons.
an air of + abstract noun
Despite losing the match, the captain kept an air of calm in front of reporters.
an air of + emotion noun
Dr. Greta entered the courtroom with an air of quiet authority.
The empty fishing village had a sad air about it after the storm.
- atmosphere
usually about a place rather than a person
- manner
focuses on how someone behaves, not the impression they give
- aura
stronger and more mysterious in tone
文法句型
an air of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always singular and used with 'an' plus an 'of'-phrase ('an air of confidence'). Distinguish from sense 1 (the gas): the wording 'an air of' is a strong signal of this metaphorical meaning.
常見錯誤
6. the situation of currently being sent out by a radio station, TV channel, or sim
the situation of currently being sent out by a radio station, TV channel, or similar broadcaster, used in the fixed phrases 'on the air' and 'off the air'.
Stay quiet — Uri is on air in thirty seconds.
on air just before live broadcast
The morning show has been on the air every weekday since 1998.
on the air over a long period
The cooking program went off the air last summer because of low ratings.
Once the host realised her mic was on air, she stopped the joke immediately.
- off air
not currently being broadcast
文法句型
on (the) air
off (the) air
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed expressions 'on (the) air' and 'off (the) air'. Distinguish from verb sense 3 ('to air a programme'): this noun sense names the state, not the action of broadcasting.
常見錯誤
7. a short, often gentle musical piece with a clear melody, used mainly in older or
a short, often gentle musical piece with a clear melody, used mainly in older or classical music writing — for example, a slow song for one voice or one instrument.
Bach's Air on the G String is one of the most loved melodies in classical music.
title use: Air on the G String
The young soprano performed a soft Italian air at the recital.
The 18th-century composer wrote dozens of airs for solo violin.
An old Scottish air drifted from the parlour as we walked past.
用法筆記
Literary and musicology register; mainly seen in pieces from the 17th to 19th century. In everyday English, use 'tune' or 'melody' instead.
air — verb
1. to say what you think, feel, or are upset about, usually in front of other peopl
to say what you think, feel, or are upset about, usually in front of other people so that the matter becomes known.
Staff were invited to air their concerns at Friday's open meeting.
air + concerns (typical object)
Mrs. Wong used the town hall to air her views on the new highway.
air + views
Parents aired their grievances about school lunches in a long letter to the principal.
The union leader aired his disappointment with the company's final offer.
文法句型
air + opinion/view/grievance/complaint
用法筆記
Object is almost always an abstract noun about feelings or complaints (views, opinions, grievances, concerns, frustrations). Formal register; rare in casual speech.
常見錯誤
2. to let fresh air move through a room or around clothes, sheets, or other items s
to let fresh air move through a room or around clothes, sheets, or other items so that they smell better or become dry.
Grandma airs the spare bedroom every Saturday morning before guests arrive.
air + room
Eitan hung the wet towels on the balcony to air in the afternoon sun.
intransitive: leave items to air
Please air your hiking boots outside — they still smell of last week's mud.
The hotel staff air the guest rooms as soon as one set of visitors leaves.
- seal
to close off so no air can pass through
文法句型
air + room/clothes/bedding
air out (US)
用法筆記
American English often uses the phrasal form 'air out'. Subjects of the intransitive use are usually clothes, bedding, or shoes.
常見錯誤
3. to send out a programme, episode, or interview through radio or television so th
to send out a programme, episode, or interview through radio or television so that listeners and viewers can receive it.
PBS will air the new documentary about coral reefs on Sunday at 9pm.
air + documentary
The interview with the former president aired last night on Channel 4.
intransitive: programme + air
The station decided not to air the violent scenes during family viewing hours.
Reruns of the cooking show air every weekday afternoon on the food channel.
- pull
to remove a programme from the schedule
文法句型
air + programme/episode/interview
用法筆記
Object is usually a programme, episode, advertisement, or interview. Distinguish from noun sense 6 ('on the air'): here 'air' is the action a station does; the noun sense names the state.
常見錯誤
4. to choose not to reply to someone's message or call, in order to show that you a
to choose not to reply to someone's message or call, in order to show that you are upset or do not want to talk to them.
Uri has been airing me ever since I forgot his birthday last month.
informal: air + person
Don't air your sister just because she borrowed your sweater without asking.
Eitan aired all of Ines's texts during the week of their argument.
It's rude to air your friends online when a real conversation would solve the problem.
文法句型
air + person
leave somebody on air
用法筆記
Slang, mostly North American and Caribbean youth English. The object is the person being ignored, or that person's messages. Sometimes appears as 'leave someone on air'.