air

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Air

air1 /eə $ er/ ●●● S1 W1 noun  1  gas 气体 [uncountable] the mixture of gases around the Earth, that we breathe 空气 Let’s go outside and get some fresh air. 我们出去呼吸些新鲜空气吧。 You need to put some air in the tyres. 你得给轮胎充气了。in the air There was a strong smell of burning in the air. 空气中有一股浓烈的焦味。 → a breath of fresh air at breath(2)2  space above the ground 空中the air the space above the ground or around things 空中，天空into the air Flames leapt into the air. 火苗蹿向天空。through the air He fell 2,000 metres through the air without a parachute. 他没用降落伞在空中下落了2,000米。3  planes 飞机 a) by airTTA travelling by, or using, a plane 乘飞机 I’d prefer to travel by air. 我喜欢坐飞机出行。 b) TTArelating to or involving planes 航空 the victims of Britain’s worst air disaster 英国最大空难的死难者 Air travel was growing rapidly. 航空旅行在迅速增长。 air traffic congestion 空中交通阻塞 His brother died in an air crash. 他的兄弟死于一场空难。4  be in the air a) if a feeling is in the air, a lot of people feel it at the same time 〔某种情绪〕弥漫在空气中 There was a sense of excitement in the air. 到处洋溢着一种激动的气氛。 b) to be going to happen very soon 即将发生 Change is in the air. 变革即将到来。5  appearance 外表 [singular] if something or someone has an air of confidence, mystery etc, they seem confident, mysterious etc 神态；样子；风度；气氛air of She had an air of quiet confidence. 她气定神闲。 She looked at him with a determined air. 她看着他，神情坚毅。6  be up in the air if something is up in the air, no decision has been made about it yet 悬而未决 Our trip is still very much up in the air. 我们的旅行计划有许多事情尚未决定。7  be on/off (the) air TCBto be broadcasting on the radio or television at the present moment, or to stop broadcasting 正在广播[播放]/停止广播[播放] We’ll be on air in three minutes. 三分钟后我们开始广播。8. music 音乐 [countable] a simple tune, often used in the title of a piece of classical music 曲调，旋律〔常用于古典乐曲名中〕9  airs [plural]PROUD a way of behaving that shows someone thinks they are more important than they really are 装腔作势，摆架子put on airs/give yourself airs Trudy is always putting on airs. 特鲁迪老是摆架子。 an actor with no airs and graces 毫无架子的演员10. be walking/floating on air to feel very happy 欢天喜地 → hot air, on-air, → clear the air at clear2(15), → disappear/vanish into thin air at thin1(15), → out of thin air at thin1(16) COLLOCATIONSadjectivesfresh 新鲜的She opened the window to let in some fresh air. 她打开窗户放进一些新鲜空气来。clean 干净的London’s air is cleaner than it has been at any time since 1585. 伦敦的空气比1585年以来的任何时候都要干净。warm/hot 温暖的/炎热的Warm air rises and is replaced by cooler and denser air. 暖空气上升，取而代之的是较为凉爽、密度较大的空气。nI felt a sudden rush of hot air.cool/cold 凉（爽）的/寒冷的The air had turned a little cooler. 空气变凉了一些。 crisp (=pleasantly cool) 凉爽的the crisp autumn air 秋天凉爽的空气clear 晴朗的nI looked up to the stars in the clear night air.damp/humid 潮湿的nDamp air causes condensation.polluted 受污染的nThe air in Mexico City is heavily polluted. stale (=not fresh and often full of smoke) 污浊的nThe room was full of stale air and tobacco smoke.the air is thin (=there is less oxygen because you are in a high place) 空气稀薄nPeople cannot live up there because the air is too thin and there is not enough oxygen to breathe. the morning/evening/night air 早晨/傍晚/夜晚的空气nHe stepped out and breathed in the cold morning air.the sea/mountain/country air 海边/山里/乡间的空气nthe salty smell of the sea airthe still air (=air in which there is no wind) 凝滞的空气nSmoke from the chimneys hung in the still air.air + NOUNair pollution 空气污染Most air pollution is caused by cars. 空气污染主要是由汽车引起的。the air quality 空气质量The air quality is very poor on hot days. 高温天气时的空气质量非常差。the air pressure 气压nThe air pressure had dropped.phrasesa breath of air 透气I went outside for a breath of air. 我到外面去透透气。a rush/blast/stream of air 一股风nThere was a cold rush of air as she wound down her window.a current of air 一股气流nThe birds are able to glide on a current of warm air.verbsbreathe in the air 吸入空气She breathed in the cool mountain air. 她呼吸着山上凉爽的空气。fight/gasp for air (=try to breathe with difficulty) 急促地喘气He clutched his throat as he fought for air. 他抓着喉部急促地喘气。let in some air (=let fresh air into a room) 放进一些新鲜空气nIt would be nice to open the door and let in some air.put air into something (=fill a tyre, balloon etc with air) 给某物充气I need to put some air in the tyres. 你得给轮胎充气了。n GRAMMAR: Patterns with airin the air• You say that something is in the air: The plane was in the air.Put your hands in the air! ✗Don’t say: The plane was on the air. into the air• You say that something goes up into the air: The plane went up into the air.on the air• You say that a TV or radio programme is on the air or on air (=it is broadcast): The show has been on the air for over 30 years.

Examples from the Corpus

air• air pollution• Jennifer better make sure an air bag is handy.• the clean air of the countryside• Alex stood shivering in the cold, damp air.• Ice can crack off into the engine air intakes and cause them to shut down.• But gecko feet work in ionised air, which would cancel out the electrostatic effect.• To his disappointment, Bessie and Edgebone were already sitting there enjoying the night air.• Cars are a major cause of air pollution.• The weight of the air on top of the paper held it down with so much pressure that the stick broke.• Could you turn on the air?• He was uncoordinated, moving his arms through the air and pointing at nothing in particular.• I say they curved through the air by 25 centimetres.• Gobbets of ice sliced through the air.in the air• Green and gold flames danced in the air over the central mountains.• There was a sense of excitement in the air.• A light rain hovers in the air.• But it's different, there's a strange hush in the air and the endless rumbling of 50,000 cannon shells.• I could taste iron in the air, and naphthalene.• If a cat stuck its leg in the air, they all raced off, screaming that they'd seen something move.• The Daughter drew signs in the air with her needles.• That thing throws you up in the air too.air2 ●○○ verb  1  opinion 观点 [transitive] to express your opinions publicly 公开发表〔看法〕air your views/grievances/complaints etc Staff will get a chance to ask questions and air their views. 员工将有机会提问并发表意见。► see thesaurus at say2  tv/radio 电视/无线电 [intransitive, transitive] to broadcast a programme on television or radio 播放，广播 KPBS airs such popular children’s programs as ‘Barney’ and ‘Sesame Street’. KPBS电视台播出《小博士邦尼》、《芝麻街》等受欢迎的儿童节目。 The program is due to air next month. 这个节目将于下月播出。3. room 房间 [transitive] especially British English, air something out American English to let fresh air into a room, especially one that has been closed for a long time 使通风4  clothes 衣服 [intransitive, transitive] especially British English, air (something) out American English to put a piece of clothing in a place that is warm or has a lot of air, so that it smells clean （把…）透风；晾干 I’ve left my sweater outside to air. 我把毛衣放在外面透透风。 → airing, → air your dirty laundry at dirty1(7)→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

air• Voters deserve an opportunity to hear unpleasant alternatives fully debated and aired.• It had probably been the only one aired and ready for the unexpected guest this morning.• Concerns that were aired by many transit executives last month were just a big bureaucratic misunderstanding, says Rep.• The music that's finally being aired, fifty years on.• The newsconference will be aired live at 7 p.m.• He talked about events in the Middle Ages as if they'd happened-yesterday and been fully aired on the nine o'clock news.• So far, only Black Entertainment Television has accepted and aired the 60-second ads.• I hung the blankets on the clothesline to air them out.• Stahl's report is scheduled to air tonight after the news.air your views/grievances/complaints etc• For too long managers have had no authoritative body to express their views or air their grievances.• From the petrol-soaked armchair he aired his views.• Nor do the parties offer their constituents soapboxes on which to air their views.• Today you have a chance to air your views.• A chance for you to air your views and put them to a Government spokesperson.• A chance to air your views and put your questions to the people responsible for the programmes you hear on Radio 2.• The board made room on the agenda for supporters of the team to air their views in a public session Friday.• Rejecting any partition of the country, Cheiffou called upon the rebels to disarm, and to air their grievances through dialogue.Origin air1 1. (1200-1300) Old French Latin aer, from Greek2. (1500-1600) Probably a translation of Italian aria; → ARIA

air1 noun →n GRAMMAR1 →COLLOCATIONS1air2 verbLDOCE OnlineChinese  

the around of the gases Corpus mixture

air

I

air¹ S1 W1 /eə $ er/ noun1.  GAS  [uncountable] the mixture of gases around the Earth, that we breathe:
    Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.
    You need to put some air in the tyres.
    in the air
    There was a strong smell of burning in the air. ⇨ a breath of fresh air at breath(2)
2.  SPACE ABOVE THE GROUND the air the space above the ground or around things
    into the air
    Flames leapt into the air.
    through the air
    He fell 2,000 metres through the air without a parachute.
3.  PLANES
  a. by air travelling by, or using, a plane:
    I’d prefer to travel by air.
  b. relating to or involving planes:
    the victims of Britain’s worst air disaster
    Air travel was growing rapidly.
    air traffic congestion
    His brother died in an air crash.
4. be in the air
  a. if a feeling is in the air, a lot of people feel it at the same time:
    There was a sense of excitement in the air.
  b. to be going to happen very soon:
    Change is in the air.
5.  APPEARANCE  [singular] if something or someone has an air of confidence, mystery etc, they seem confident, mysterious etc
    air of
    She had an air of quiet confidence.
    She looked at him with a determined air.
6. be up in the air if something is up in the air, no decision has been made about it yet:
    Our trip is still very much up in the air.
7. be on/off (the) air to be broadcasting on the radio or television at the present moment, or to stop broadcasting:
    We’ll be on air in three minutes.
8.  MUSIC  [countable] a simple tune, often used in the title of a piece of classical music
9. airs [plural] a way of behaving that shows someone thinks they are more important than they really are
    put on airs/give yourself airs
    Trudy is always putting on airs.
    an actor with no airs and graces
10. be walking/floating on air to feel very happy
⇨ hot air, on-air, ⇨ clear the air at clear²(15), ⇨ disappear/vanish into thin air at thin¹(15), ⇨ out of thin air at thin¹(16)
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ fresh She opened the window to let in some fresh air.
   ▪ clean London’s air is cleaner than it has been at any time since 1585.
   ▪ warm/hot Warm air rises and is replaced by cooler and denser air. | I felt a sudden rush of hot air.
   ▪ cool/cold The air had turned a little cooler.
   ▪ crisp (=pleasantly cool) the crisp autumn air
   ▪ clear I looked up to the stars in the clear night air.
   ▪ damp/humid Damp air causes condensation.
   ▪ polluted The air in Mexico City is heavily polluted.
   ▪ stale (=not fresh and often full of smoke) The room was full of stale air and tobacco smoke.
   ▪ the air is thin (=there is less oxygen because you are in a high place) People cannot live up there because the air is too thin and there is not enough oxygen to breathe.
   ▪ the morning/evening/night air He stepped out and breathed in the cold morning air.
   ▪ the sea/mountain/country air the salty smell of the sea air
   ▪ the still air (=air in which there is no wind) Smoke from the chimneys hung in the still air.
■ air + NOUN
   ▪ air pollution Most air pollution is caused by cars.
   ▪ the air quality The air quality is very poor on hot days.
   ▪ the air pressure The air pressure had dropped.
■ phrases
   ▪ a breath of air I went outside for a breath of air.
   ▪ a rush/blast/stream of air There was a cold rush of air as she wound down her window.
   ▪ a current of air The birds are able to glide on a current of warm air.
■ verbs
   ▪ breathe in the air She breathed in the cool mountain air.
   ▪ fight/gasp for air (=try to breathe with difficulty) He clutched his throat as he fought for air.
   ▪ let in some air (=let fresh air into a room) It would be nice to open the door and let in some air.
   ▪ put air into something (=fill a tyre, balloon etc with air) I need to put some air in the tyres.

II

air² verb
1.  OPINION  [transitive] to express your opinions publicly
    air your views/grievances/complaints etc
    Staff will get a chance to ask questions and air their views.
2.  TV/RADIO  [intransitive and transitive] to broadcast a programme on television or radio:
    KPBS airs such popular children’s programs as ‘Barney’ and ‘Sesame Street’.
    The program is due to air next month.
3.  ROOM  [transitive] especially British English, air something out American English to let fresh air into a room, especially one that has been closed for a long time
4.  CLOTHES  [intransitive and transitive] especially British English, air (something) out American English to put a piece of clothing in a place that is warm or has a lot of air, so that it smells clean:
    I’ve left my sweater outside to air.
⇨ airing, ⇨ air your dirty laundry at dirty¹(7)
     

THESAURUS

■ to say something
   ▪ say to tell someone something, using words: ‘I really ought to go,’ she said. | Lauren said she’d probably be late.
   ▪ state to say something, especially in a definite or formal way – used in official contexts: The witness stated that he had never seen the woman before. | Please state your name and address.
   ▪ announce to publicly tell people about something: The chairman announced his resignation. | The results will be announced tomorrow. | We will announce the winners next Sunday. | They were announcing the train times over the loudspeaker system.
   ▪ declare to say something very firmly: ‘My personal life is none of your business,’ she declared.
   ▪ mention to talk about someone or something, especially without giving many details: Did Tom mention anything about what happened at school? | Your name was mentioned!
   ▪ express to let someone know your feelings by putting them into words: Young children often find it difficult to express their emotions.
   ▪ comment to say what your opinion is about someone or something: The prime minister was asked to comment on the crisis.
   ▪ note/remark formal to say that you have noticed that something is true – used especially in formal writing: We have already noted that most old people live alone. | Someone once remarked that the problem with computers is that they only give you answers.
   ▪ add to say something more, after what has already been said: He added that he thought it could be done fairly cheaply.
   ▪ point out to mention something that seems particularly important or relevant: Dr Graham points out that most children show some signs of abnormal behaviour. | It’s worth pointing out that few people actually die of this disease.
   ▪ air to talk about your opinions, worries, or the things you disagree about: air your views/grievances/differences: The programme will give listeners the chance to air their views about immigration. | Workers were able to air their grievances.
   ▪ voice to talk publicly about your feelings or about whether you approve or disapprove of something formal: voice concern/support/doubt/fears etc: The president has already voiced his support for the proposal. | She voiced concern for the safety of the hostages.