air
1 the outside air
2 the air inside rooms, buildings, etc
3 putting or keeping air inside sth
see also WEATHER, BREATHE
1 the outside air
- the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that people, animals and plants breathe: air (noun U)
She threw the ball high up in the air. ◎ Can you open the window? There's not enough air in here. ◎ pure (= clean) mountain air
- the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth or any other planet: atmosphere (usually singular); adjective: atmospheric
atmospheric pollution
- the main gases which make up the air are oxygen (noun U), carbon dioxide (noun U), nitrogen (noun U)
- clean cool air, outside or from outside: fresh air
Let's go out for a walk - I feel like a breath of fresh air.
- outside in the fresh air: in the open air; adjective: open-air
to go swimming in the open air ◎ an open-air swimming pool
- the movement of air across the earth: wind (noun C/U)
a fresh wind ◎ The curtains were blowing in the wind. ◎ a gust of wind
- with a lot of wind: windy
a windy day ◎ a windy place
※ more on wind WIND
- when there is a lot of water in the air, it is humid, damp; nouns (U): humidity, dampness, damp
a hot and humid climate ◎ The air was cold and damp. ◎ a high level of humidity
- when the air is dirty, it is polluted; noun (U): pollution
The air in Los Angeles is badly polluted. ◎ an increase in industrial pollution
- a mixture of fog and smoke in the air of polluted industrial cities: smog (noun U)
2 the air inside buildings, etc
- when a room has plenty of fresh air, it is airy
a beautiful airy bedroom
- when a room does not have enough fresh air, it is airless, stuffy; noun (U): stuffiness
They live in a horrible airless little flat. ◎ It's very stuffy in here.
- a current of air that comes into a room and makes it unpleasantly cold: draught (AmE draft); a place with a lot of draughts is draughty (AmE drafty)
Could you shut the door, please? There's a cold draught in here. ◎ a draughty corridor
- the air inside a room, etc: atmosphere
I hate the smoky atmosphere in pubs.
※ keeping the air cool
- to let air into a room to make it fresh: air sth
We opened the windows to air the bedrooms.
- to allow air to move freely in or out of a room or building: ventilate sth; noun (U) ventilation
a poorly ventilated building ◎ It's a very small room and the ventilation is rather bad.
- an electrical machine with blades which turn around and keep the air moving in a room: fan
- a system that keeps the air in a building or car cool and clean: air-conditioning (noun U)
3 putting or keeping air inside sth
- to fill sth with air: blow* sth up, (formal) inflate sth
to blow up a balloon
- a piece of equipment for filling sth with air: pump; to use a pump: pump air into sth, pump sth up
to pump up a bicycle tyre
- something which can be filled with air is inflatable
a small inflatable boat
- a small device which controls the movement of air into sth: valve
- the force of the air which is inside sth: pressure (noun U)
Don't forget to check the pressure in your tyres regularly.
- to close sth so that air cannot get into it: seal sth
a tightly sealed jar
- when sth is sealed, it is airtight
After you've opened the packet, you should keep the coffee in an airtight container.
※ MORE ...
- a space where there is no air: vacuum
- something which is operated using air pressure is pneumatic
a pneumatic drill
|
|
