airborne

/ˈeəbɔːn/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɛrbˌɔrn] /ˈerbɔːrn/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɛrbˌɔrn] /ˈer-ˌbȯrn How to pronounce airborne (audio)/ (ame, mw)

airborne — adjective

  • airbornepositive
  • more airbornecomparative
  • most airbornesuperlative

1. already flying, or moving through the air because wind, air, or an aircraft is c

1.形容詞B2
釋義

already flying, or moving through the air because wind, air, or an aircraft is carrying it.

例句

The rescue plane was airborne less than five minutes after the alarm.

be airborne after takeoff

Airborne dust settled on Lucas's camera during the windy desert walk.

airborne + particle noun

同義詞
  • aerial

    broader and often means 'from the air' rather than literally floating or flying

  • windborne

    narrower; only covers things carried by the wind

  • airlifted

    only for things moved somewhere by aircraft

反義詞
  • grounded

    used especially when an aircraft cannot fly

  • ground-based

    used for things operating on land rather than in the air

文法句型

be airborne

airborne + noun

用法筆記

Often describes dust, disease, seeds, or anything already up in the air. Distinguish from sense 2 — this sense is about being in or carried through the air, not military training.

常見錯誤

❌The kite was airborne in the sky.
✅The kite was airborne.
💡'airborne' already includes the idea of being in the air, so adding 'in the sky' is usually redundant.

2. trained to go into combat from an aircraft, especially by parachute.

2.形容詞C1
釋義

trained to go into combat from an aircraft, especially by parachute.

例句

The airborne brigade trained all week for a night parachute drop.

airborne + brigade in military training

Mateo hoped to join an airborne unit after infantry school.

airborne + unit

同義詞
  • parachute

    used before some military nouns, but focuses more directly on the parachute method

  • air-mobile

    broader military term for forces moved by aircraft, not always by parachute

反義詞
  • ground

    contrasts with troops or forces operating on land

文法句型

airborne + unit

airborne + troops

用法筆記

Mostly a military adjective before words like 'troops', 'brigade', or 'unit'. Distinguish from sense 1 — this sense names soldiers trained for air deployment, not anything simply flying.

常見錯誤

❌The army sent airborne soldiers from trucks.
✅The army sent airborne soldiers from aircraft.
💡in this military sense, 'airborne' implies deployment by air, often with parachutes.