Air (4)1, n.
n. [Fr. air, Pr. air, aire, Sp. aire, Pg. ær, It. aria, air and tune, Lat. aër, Gr. ἀήρ, air.] 1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable. ☞ By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it consists essentially of two gases, oxygen and nitrogen, in the proportion of 20.81 parts of the former to 76.99 of the latter; or, by weight, of 23.01 oxygen, and 79.19 nitrogen, according to Dumas. The oxygen is the vital portion, but the nitrogen is necessary to dilute it.
- A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, and the like, or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, &c.
- Any airiform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital air.
- Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind.
Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. Pope.
- Utterance abroad; publicity; as, a story has taken air. “You gave it air before me.” Dryden.
- Hence, intelligence; advice; information. [Obs.] Bacon.
- (Mus.) A musical thought expressed in a pleasing and symmetrical succession of single tones; a melody; a tune; an aria.
- The peculiar look, appearance, manner, mien or carriage of a person; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. “His very air.” Shak.
- pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs.
- (Paint.) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. New Am. Cyc.
To take air, to be divulged; to be made public. — To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.