Air - Alar

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14. (Paint.) (a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. New Am. Cyc. (b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. Fairholt.
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15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.
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☞ Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump.
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Coloq. Air balloon . See . -- Coloq. Air bath . (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature. -- Coloq. Air castle . See , under . -- Coloq. Air compressor , a machine for compressing air to be used as a motive power. -- Coloq. Air crossing , a passage for air in a mine. -- Coloq. Air cushion , an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a device for arresting motion without shock by confined air. -- Coloq. Air fountain , a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the force of compressed air. -- Coloq. Air furnace , a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not on blast. -- Coloq. Air line , a straight line; a bee line. Hence Coloq. Air-line , adj.; as, air-line road. -- Coloq. Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson. Knight. -- Coloq. Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air. -- Coloq. Air spring , a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized. -- Coloq. Air thermometer , a form of thermometer in which the contraction and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature. -- Coloq. Air threads , gossamer. -- Coloq. Air trap , a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap. -- Coloq. Air trunk , a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from a room. -- Coloq. Air valve , a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to enter. -- Coloq. Air way , a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air pump; an air way in a mine. -- Coloq. In the air . (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air. -- Coloq. on the air , currently transmitting; live; -- used of radio and television broadcasts, to indicate that the images and sounds being picked up by cameras and microphones are being broadcast at the present moment. In call-in programs where individuals outside a radio or television studio have telephoned into the station, when their voice is being directly broadcast, the host of the program commonly states “You're on the air.” as a warning that the conversation is not private. -- Coloq. To take air , to be divulged; to be made public. -- Coloq. To take the air , to go abroad; to walk or ride out.
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Air (âr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired (ârd); p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] [See , n., and cf. .] 1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room.
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It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. Bacon.
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Were you but riding forth to air yourself. Shak.
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2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion.
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Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. Tennyson.
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3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.
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airball (ârb�l) n. (Basketball) A throw at the basket that completely misses, not even hitting the rim. Compare and .
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airbed, air bed (�). A sack or mattress inflated with air, and used as a bed.
Syn. -- air mattress, air-bed
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air bladder (�). 1. (Anat.) An air sac, sometimes double or variously lobed, in the visceral cavity of many fishes. It originates in the same way as the lungs of air-breathing vertebrates, and in the adult may retain a tubular connection with the pharynx or esophagus.
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2. A sac or bladder full of air in an animal or plant; also an air hole in a casting.
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airborne adj. 1. conveyed by or through air, as dust or pollen; as, a clean room is needed to avoid airborne contaminants.
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2. in flight; flying; -- said of an airplane.
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3. (Mil.) carried directly to the site of battle by aircraft; -- said of combat troops, as, an airborne division.
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Air brake (�). (Mach.) A railway brake powered by compressed air. Knight.
Syn. -- airbrake.
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airbrake n. 1. 1 a small parachute or articulated flap to reduce the speed of an aircraft.
Syn. -- dive brake
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2. a vehicular brake that operates by compressed air; especially for heavy vehicles. Same as .
Syn. -- air brake
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n. 1. an atomizer to spray by means of compressed air.
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airbrush, air brush. A kind of atomizer for applying liquid coloring matter, such as paint, in a spray by compressed air.
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airbrush v. t. 1. 1. to paint with an airbrush. The old car looks like new now that we airbrushed it
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2. to alter or remove by use of an airbrush. “After the photographer airbrushed out the wrinkles on her face she looked twenty years younger.”
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Air-built (�), a. Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as, an air-built castle.
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Air cell (�). 1. (Bot.) A cavity in the cellular tissue of plants, containing air only.
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2. (Anat.) A receptacle of air in various parts of the system; as, a cell or minute cavity in the walls of the air tubes of the lungs; the air sac of birds; a dilatation of the air vessels in insects.
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Air chamber (�). 1. A chamber or cavity filled with air, in an animal or plant.
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2. A cavity containing air to act as a spring for equalizing the flow of a liquid in a pump or other hydraulic machine.
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Air cock (�). A faucet to allow escape of air.
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Air cooling. In devices generating heat, such as gasoline-engine motor vehicles, the cooling of the device by increasing its radiating surface by means of ribs or radiators, and placing it so that it is exposed to a current of air. Cf. . -- Air-cooled, a.
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Aircraft (?), n. sing. & pl. Any vehicle, such as an airplane, helicopter, balloon, etc., for floating in, or flying through, the air.
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aircraftman, aircraftsman n. 1. 1 a noncommissioned officer in the British Royal Air Force.
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aircrew n. 1. the crew of an aircraft.
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aircrewman n. 1. a member of an aircrew.
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airdock n. 1. 1 a large building at an airport where aircraft can be stored and maintained.
Syn. -- hangar, repair shed
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Air-drawn (�), a. Drawn in air; imaginary.
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This is the air-drawn dagger. Shak.
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Air drill (�). A drill driven by the elastic pressure of condensed air; a pneumatic drill. Knight.
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airdrome n. 1. an airfield equipped with control tower and hangers as well as accommodations for passengers and cargo.
Syn. -- airport, aerodrome
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aired (ârd), adj. abounding in fresh air.
Syn. -- airy
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2. made public by radio or television. The report was aired on the seven o'clock news.
Syn. -- broadcast
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Airedale n. 1. 1 a breed of large wiry-coated terriers, bred in Yorkshire.
Syn. -- Airedale terrier
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Air engine (�). An engine driven by heated or by compressed air. Knight.
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Airer (�), n. 1. One who exposes to the air.
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2. A frame on which clothes are aired or dried.
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airfield (ârfēld), n. 1. 1 a place where planes take off and land; an airport; -- usually used of airports other than those with regularly sheduled commercial flights, such as those at military bases or small fields for private aircraft.
Syn. -- landing field, flying field, field
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airflow (ârflō), n. 1. the flow of air.
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airfoil n. 1. 1 a surface such as the wing of an airplane designed to provide reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air.
Syn. -- aerofoil
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airframe n. 1. the framework and covering of an airplane or rocket (excluding the engines).
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Air gap. (Physics) An air-filled gap in a magnetic or electric circuit; specif., in a dynamo or motor, the space between the field-magnet poles and the armature; clearance.
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Air gas (�). See under .
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airgun, air gun (gŭn). A kind of gun in which the elastic force of condensed air is used to discharge the ball. The air is powerfully compressed into a reservoir attached to the gun, by a condensing pump, and is controlled by a valve actuated by the trigger. The common BB gun is a type of air gun.
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Air hammer. a hammer powered by compressed air so as to be able to provide powerful repeated strokes; a pneumatic hammer.
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airhead (âr hĕd), n. an airheaded person. [disparaging]
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airheaded adj. 1. lacking seriousness; given to frivolity; scatterbrained; stupid; simple-minded; as, airheaded teenagers. Contrasted with serious, solemn
Syn. -- dizzy, empty-headed, featherbrained, giddy, lightheaded, light-headed, silly
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Air hole (âr hōl). 1. A hole to admit or discharge air; specifically, a spot in the ice not frozen over.
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2. (Founding) A fault in a casting, produced by a bubble of air; a blowhole.
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3. (Aëronautics) A local region in the atmosphere having a downward movement and offering less than normal support for the sustaining surfaces of a flying machine, causing an airplane to drop suddenly. Same as air pocket.
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Airily (ârĭl�), adv. In an airy manner; lightly; gaily; jauntily; flippantly.
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Airiness, n. 1. The state or quality of being airy; openness or exposure to the air; as, the airiness of a country seat.
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2. Lightness of spirits; gayety; levity; as, the airiness of young persons.
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Airing (ârĭng), n. 1. A walk or a ride in the open air; a short excursion for health's sake.
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2. An exposure to air, or to a fire, for warming, drying, etc.; as, the airing of linen, or of a room.
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Air jacket (�). A jacket having air-tight cells, or cavities which can be filled with air, to render persons buoyant in swimming.
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Airless (�), a. Not open to a free current of air; wanting fresh air, or communication with the open air.
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Air level (�). Spirit level. See .
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Airlike (�), a. Resembling air.
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Air line. A path through the air made easy for aërial navigation by steady winds.
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airline. an organization, usually commercial or governmental, providing transportation by airplane for freight or passengers. The term includes the organization, its personnel, equipment and other properties, such as approved air routes.
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Airling (�), n. A thoughtless, gay person. [Obs.] “Slight airlings.” B. Jonson.
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Airman (?), n. 1. A man who ascends or flies in an aircraft; an aviator; an airplane pilot.
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2. an enlisted man in the air force; there are several grades.
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Airmanship (?), n. Art, skill, or ability in the practice of aerial navigation; aircraft piloting.
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Airol (?), n. (Pharm.) A grayish green antiseptic powder, consisting of a basic iodide and gallate of bismuth, sometimes used in place of iodoform. [A Trademark]
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Airometer (�), n. [Air + -meter.] A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open below, and has its open end plunged into water.
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Air pipe (�). A pipe for the passage of air; esp. a ventilating pipe.
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airplane n. a heavier-than-air aircraft. Same as .
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airplane propeller n. a designed for propelling airplanes.
Syn. -- airscrew, propeller, prop.
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Air plant (�). (Bot.) A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an aërophyte.
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☞ The “Florida moss” (Tillandsia, many tropical orchids, and most mosses and lichens are air plants. Those which are lodged upon trees, but not parasitic on them, such as the Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides), are epiphytes.
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Air pocket (pŏkĕt). (aeronautics) A local region in the atmosphere having a downward movement and offering less than normal support for the sustaining surfaces of a flying machine, causing an airplane to drop suddenly. Same as air hole.
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Air poise (�). [See .] An instrument to measure the weight of air.
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Air pump (�). 1. (Physics) A kind of pump for exhausting air from a vessel or closed space; also, a pump to condense air or force it into a closed space.
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2. (Steam Engines) A pump used to exhaust from a condenser the condensed steam, the water used for condensing, and any commingled air.
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Air sac (�). 1. (Anat.) One of the spaces in different parts of the bodies of birds, which are filled with air and connected with the air passages of the lungs; an air cell.
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2. An .
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airscrew n. an .
Syn. -- airplane propeller, prop
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Air shaft (�). A passage, usually vertical, for admitting fresh air into a mine or a tunnel.
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airship n. 1. 1 a steerable self-propelled light-than-air aircraft.
Syn. -- dirigible
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Airsick (?), a. Affected with air sickness or aërial sickness; feeling nauseous due to riding in an airplane. -- Airsickness, n.
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Air sickness. A vomiting or nauseous feeling similar to seasickness experienced by passengers in aircraft; -- it is caused by motion and distinguished from the effects of low air pressure, as it may also occur in the pressurized cabins of large aircraft.
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Air-slacked (�), a. Slacked, or pulverized, by exposure to the air; as, air-slacked lime.
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airspace n. 1. the atmosphere above a nation and deemed to be under its jurisdiction.
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Air stove (�). A stove for heating a current of air which is directed against its surface by means of pipes, and then distributed through a building.
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airstream n. 1. a relatively well-defined prevailing wind.
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2. the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller.
Syn. -- slipstream, race, backwash, wash
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airstrip n. 1. 1 an airfield without normal airport facilities.
Syn. -- flight strip, landing strip, strip
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airt v. i. 1. to pick one's way.
Syn. -- pass, make one's way, work one's way, work
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airt v. t. [Also spelled airth.] [Chiefly Scottish] 1. to point out the way; to direct or guide.
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2. channel into a new direction
Syn. -- redirect
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Air-tight (�), a. 1. So tight as to be impermeable to air or other gases; as, an air-tight cylinder; -- said of containers.
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2. of such close construction as to have little leakage of air in or out; -- said of structures
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3. so thoroughly convincing as to be insusceptible to doubt; having no apparent counterarguments; -- of arguments or assertions an airtight alibi an airtight argument
Syn. -- airtight, uncontradictable, undeniable.
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Air-tight, n. A stove the draft of which can be almost entirely shut off. [Colloq. U. S.]
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Air vessel (�). A vessel, cell, duct, or tube containing or conducting air; as the air vessels of insects, birds, plants, etc.; the air vessel of a pump, engine, etc. For the latter, see . The air vessels of insects are called tracheæ, of plants spiral vessels.
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{ Airward (�), Airwards (�), } adv. Toward the air; upward. [R.] Keats.
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airwaves n. pl. the medium of transmission of signals by radio or television stations; by radio transmission; -- used non-technically; as, over the airwaves, i. e. by radio or television.
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airway n. 1. a duct that provides ventilation, as in mines.
Syn. -- air passage, air duct.
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Airwoman (?), n. A woman who ascends or flies in an aircraft; a woman aviator; a woman airplane pilot or balloonist; an aviatrix.
Syn. -- aviatrix, aviatress
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airworthiness n. 1. fitness to fly. “the plane received a certificate of airworthiness”.
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airworthy adj. 1. fit to fly; -- said of aircraft. Opposite of unairworthy.
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Airy (�), a. 1. Consisting of air; as, an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies.
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2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aërial; as, an airy flight. “The airy region.” Milton.
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3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy; as, an airy situation.
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4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike. “An airy spirit.” Shak.
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5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful; as, airy music.
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6. Without reality; having no solid foundation; empty; trifling; visionary. “Airy fame.” Shak.
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Empty sound, and airy notions. Roscommon.
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7. Light of heart; vivacious; sprightly; flippant; superficial. “Merry and airy.” Jer. Taylor.
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8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand. [Colloq.]
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9. (Paint.) Having the light and aërial tints true to nature. Elmes.
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Aisle (�), n. [OF. ele, F. aile, wing, wing of a building, L. ala, contr. fr. axilla.] (Arch.) (a) A lateral division of a building, separated from the middle part, called the nave, by a row of columns or piers, which support the roof or an upper wall containing windows, called the clearstory wall. (b) Improperly used also for the have; -- as in the phrases, a church with three aisles, the middle aisle. (c) Also (perhaps from confusion with alley), a passage into which the pews of a church open.
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Aisled (�), a. Furnished with an aisle or aisles.
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Aisless (�), a. Without an aisle.
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Ait (�), n. [AS. �, �, perh. dim. of īeg, īg, island. See .] An islet, or little isle, in a river or lake; an eyot.
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The ait where the osiers grew. R. Hodges (1649).
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Among green aits and meadows. Dickens.
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Ait (�), n. Oat. [Scot.] Burns.
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Aitch (�), n. The letter h or H.
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Aitchbone (�), n. [For nachebone. For loss of n, cf. . See .] The bone of the rump; also, the cut of beef surrounding this bone. [Spelt also edgebone.]
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Aitiology (�), n. See .
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Aizoaceae n. a natural family of succulent herbs or small shrubs mostly of South Africa but also New Zealand and North America: carpetweeds; fig marigolds.
Syn. -- family Aizoaceae, Tetragoniaceae, family Tetragoniaceae, carpetweed family.
[WordNet 1.5]

Ajar (�), adv. [OE. on char ajar, on the turn; AS. cerr, cyrr, turn, akin to G. kehren to turn, and to D. akerre. See .] Slightly turned or opened; as, the door was standing ajar.
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Ajar (�), adv. [Pref. a- + jar.] In a state of discord; out of harmony; as, he is ajar with the world.
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Ajava (?), n. (Bot.) See .
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Ajog (�), adv. [Pref. a- + jog.] On the jog.
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{ Ajouan Ajowan } (?), n. [Written also ajwain.] [Prob. native name.] (Bot.) The fruit of Ammi Copticum, syn. Carum Ajowan, used both as a medicine and as a condiment. An oil containing thymol is extracted from it. Called also Javanee seed, Javanese seed, and ajava.
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ajour (ȧzh�r), n. [F. à jour, open to day.] of or pertaining to objects which are pierced or decorated with an openwork pattern. RHUD 1.3
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Ajutage (�), n. [F. ajutage, for ajoutage, fr. ajouter to add, LL. adjuxtare, fr. L. ad + juxta near to, nigh. Cf. , , .] A tube through which water is discharged; an efflux tube; as, the ajutage of a fountain.
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Ake (�), n. & v. See .
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akee n. a tree (Blighia sapida) widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its fragrant flowers and colorful fruits; introduced in Jamaica by Captain Bligh of the HMS Bounty.
Syn. -- akee tree.
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2. red pear-shaped tropical fruit with poisonous seeds; the flesh is poisonous when unripe or overripe.
Syn. -- ackee
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Akene (�), n. (Bot.) Same as .
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Akeridae n. 1. 1 a family comprising the bubble shells.
Syn. -- family Akeridae.
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Aketon (�), n. [Obs.] See .
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Akimbo (�), a. [Etymology unknown. Cf. .] With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward. “With one arm akimbo.” Irving.
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Akin (�), a. [Pref. a- (for of) + kin.] 1. Of the same kin; related by blood; -- used of persons; as, the two families are near akin.
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2. Allied by nature; partaking of the same properties; of the same kind. “A joy akin to rapture.” Cowper.
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The literary character of the work is akin to its moral character. Jeffrey.
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☞ This adjective is used only after the noun.
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Akinesia (�), n. [Gr. � quiescence; 'a priv. + � motion.] (Med.) Paralysis of the motor nerves; loss of movement. Foster.
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Akinesic (�), a. (Med.) Pertaining to akinesia.
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Aknee (�), adv. On the knee. [R.] Southey.
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Aknow (�). Earlier form of . [Obs.]
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Coloq. To be aknow , to acknowledge; to confess. [Obs.]
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akvavit n. 1. Scandinavian liquor usually flavored with caroway seeds.
Syn. -- aquavit
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Al (�), a. All. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Al (�), n. (Chem.) the chemical symbol for aluminum.
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Al. conj. Although; if. [Obs.] See , conj.
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al-. prefix. (a) [AS. eal.] All; wholly; completely; as, almighty, almost. (b) [L. ad.] To; at; on; -- in OF. shortened to a-. See . (c) The Arabic definite article answering to the English the; as, Alkoran, the Koran or the Book; alchemy, the chemistry.
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ala (ālȧ), n.; pl. Alæ (ālē). [L., a wing.] (Biol.) A winglike organ, or part.
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Alabaman prop. n. A native or resident of Alabama.
Syn. -- Alabamian
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Alabama period (�). (Geol.) A period in the American eocene, the lowest in the tertiary age except the lignitic.
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Alabamian n. A native or resident of Alabama.
Syn. -- Alabaman
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Alabaster (�), n. [L. alabaster, Gr. 'alabastros, said to be derived fr. Alabastron, the name of a town in Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F. albâtre.] 1. (Min.) (a) A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc. (b) A hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental alabaster.
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2. A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally made. Fosbroke.
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Alabastrian (�), a. Alabastrine.
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Alabastrine (�), a. Of, pertaining to, or like, alabaster; as alabastrine limbs.
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Alabastrum (�), n.; pl. Alabastra (�). [NL.] (Bot.) A flower bud. Gray.
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Alack (�), interj. [Prob. from ah! lack! OE. lak loss, failure, misfortune. See .] An exclamation expressive of sorrow. [Archaic. or Poet.] Shak.
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Alackaday (�), interj. [For alack the day. Cf. Lackaday.] An exclamation expressing sorrow.
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☞ Shakespeare has “alack the day” and “alack the heavy day.” Compare “woe worth the day.”
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Alacrify (�), v. t. [L. alacer, alacris, lively + -fly.] To rouse to action; to inspirit.
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Alacrious (�), a. [L. alacer, alacris.] Brisk; joyously active; lively.
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'T were well if we were a little more alacrious. Hammond.
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Alacriously, adv. With alacrity; briskly.
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Alacriousness, n. Alacrity. [Obs.] Hammond.
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Alacrity (�), n. [L. alacritas, fr. alacer lively, eager, prob. akin to Gr. � to drive, Goth. aljan zeal.] A cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptitude; joyous activity; briskness; sprightliness; as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to meet the enemy.
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I have not that alacrity of spirit,
Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have. Shak.
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Aladinist (�), n. [From Aladin, for Ala Eddin, i. e., height of religion, a learned divine under Mohammed II. and Bajazet II.] One of a sect of freethinkers among the Mohammedans.
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Alalia (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � priv. + � a talking; cf. � speechless.] (Med.) Inability to utter articulate sounds, due either to paralysis of the larynx or to that form of aphasia, called motor, or ataxis, aphasia, due to loss of control of the muscles of speech.
[Webster Suppl.]

Alalonga (�), or Alilonghi (�), n. (Zoöl.) The tunny. See .
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Alamire (�), n. [Compounded of a la mi re, names of notes in the musical scale.] The lowest note but one in Guido Aretino's scale of music.
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Alamodality (�), n. The quality of being à la mode; conformity to the mode or fashion; fashionableness. [R.] Southey.
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Alamode (�), adv. & a. [F. à la mode after the fashion.] According to the fashion or prevailing mode. “Alamode beef shops.” Macaulay.
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Alamode, n. A thin, black silk for hoods, scarfs, etc.; -- often called simply mode. Buchanan.
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Alamort (�), a. [F. à la mort to the death. Cf. .] To the death; mortally.
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Alan (ȧlȧn), n. [OF. alan, alant; cf. Sp. alano.] A wolfhound. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Aland (�), adv. [Pref. a- + land.] On land; to the land; ashore. “Cast aland.” Sir P. Sidney.
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Alanine (�), n. [Aldehyde + the ending -ine. The -n- is a euphonic insertion.] (Chem.) one of the natural amino acids found combined in the proteins of most living tissues. It can be isolated as a white crystalline base, C3H7NO2. The natural form is the L-configuration.
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Alantin (�), n. [G. alant elecampane, the Inula helenium of Linnæus.] (Chem.) See .
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Alar (�), a. [L. alarius, fr. ala wing: cf. F. alaire.] 1. Pertaining to, or having, wings.
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2. (Bot.) Axillary; in the fork or axil. Gray.
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