air 1 S1 W1 / eə $ er / 名词

1 gas [不可数名词] 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 [单数形式] 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 [可数名词] a simple tune, often used in the title of a piece of classical music

9 airs [复数形式] 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 clear 2 ( 15 ) , → disappear/vanish into thin air at thin 1 ( 15 ) , → out of thin air at thin 1 ( 16 )

COLLOCATIONS

形容词

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.

短语

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.

动词

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.