word-vault

{ "term": "air", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Let's go out for some **fresh air**." }, { "text": "a blast of hot air" }, { "text": "currents of warm air" }, { "text": "He stood outside, breathing the cold night air." }, { "text": "She was **gasping for air** as she ran out of the burning house." }, { "text": "whales coming up for air *(= in order to breathe)*" }, { "text": "I need to put some air in my tyres." }, { "text": "The agreement requires reductions in **air pollution**." }, { "text": "The Act lays down a minimum standard for **air quality**." }, { "text": "He drew in another breath of air." }, { "text": "I sat for a moment, inhaling the fresh forest air." }, { "text": "It's difficult carrying such heavy loads in the thin air of the mountains." }, { "text": "Land crabs breathe air and cannot swim." }, { "text": "The cool night air wafted in the open windows." }, { "text": "There are regulatory requirements for clean air and water." }, { "text": "We felt a blast of cold air as she opened the door." }, { "text": "the musty smell of stale air" }, { "text": "the polluted air of our cities" }, { "text": "warm currents of air" }, { "text": "Nothing moved in the still air." } ], "topics": ["The environment", "Weather"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["hot", "warm", "chill"], "… of air": ["blast", "gust", "rush"], "verb + air": ["breathe", "breathe in", "gulp in"], "air + verb": ["blow", "circulate", "flow"], "air + noun": ["pollution", "quality", "pressure"], "preposition": ["in the air", "into the air", "through the air"], "phrases": ["in the open air"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "the space above the ground or that is around things", "sensetop": "in/into the airthrough the air", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Music filled the night air." }, { "text": "Wave your hands in the air!", "contextForm": "in/into the air" }, { "text": "I kicked the ball high into the air." }, { "text": "Spicy smells wafted through the air.", "contextForm": "through the air" }, { "text": "He punched the air in triumph." }, { "text": "The air was thick with cigarette smoke." }, { "text": "The tang of some wild herb hung in the air." }, { "text": "Suddenly a scream pierced the air." }, { "text": "The air was sweet with incense." }, { "text": "The dog stretched and sniffed the air." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["hot", "warm", "chill"], "… of air": ["blast", "gust", "rush"], "verb + air": ["breathe", "breathe in", "gulp in"], "air + verb": ["blow", "circulate", "flow"], "air + noun": ["pollution", "quality", "pressure"], "preposition": ["in the air", "into the air", "through the air"], "phrases": ["in the open air"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "the space above the earth where planes fly", "sensetop": "by air", "cefr": "a1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The temple was clearly visible from the air." }, { "text": "We watched as the helicopter took to the air." }, { "text": "It only takes three hours by air *(= in a plane)*.", "contextForm": "by air" }, { "text": "**air travel/traffic**" }, { "text": "air defence systems *(= weapons that defend against attacks from the air)*" }, { "text": "A surprise air attack *(= from aircraft)* was launched at night." } ], "collocations": { "air + noun": ["travel", "fare", "traffic"], "preposition": ["by air", "from the air"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "the particular feeling or impression that is given by somebody/something; the way somebody does something", "sensetop": "air of something", "examples": [ { "text": "She looked at him with a defiant air." }, { "text": "The room had an air of luxury.", "contextForm": "air of something" }, { "text": "There was an air of complete confidence about her." }, { "text": "He had an air of mystery about him." }, { "text": "He leaned over to Melissa with an air of confidentiality." }, { "text": "You have an air of authority." } ], "collocations": { "verb + air": ["have", "retain", "add"], "preposition": ["with an/the air", "air of"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "a tune", "labels": "(old-fashioned)", "cefr": "c2", "examples": [ { "text": "Bach’s Air on a G string" } ], "topics": ["Music"] }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "a way of behaving that shows that somebody thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are", "labels": "(disapproving)", "examples": [ { "text": "I hate it when people **put on airs**." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "a way of behaving that shows that somebody thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are", "labels": "(British English, disapproving)", "examples": [ { "text": "Even when he became a star he didn’t have any airs and graces." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere", "examples": [ { "text": "We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime." }, { "text": "I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air." } ], "topics": ["Health and Fitness"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "(to have) plans or dreams that are not likely to happen or come true", "examples": [ { "text": "As a child he would wander round the boatyards, building castles in the air about owning a boat one day." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "This meeting will be an opportunity to clear the air and start the healing process." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "to make the air less dirty or less humid (= warm and wet)", "examples": [ { "text": "Storms were supposed to clear the air." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to disappear suddenly in a mysterious way", "examples": [ { "text": "She can’t just have vanished into thin air." }, { "text": "At a stroke she could make things vanish into thin air." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to refer to an estimate or method of doing something that is not very accurate or scientific and partly based on guessing", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "It isn’t an exact science—it’s a kind of finger in the air thing." }, { "text": "‘It’s all a bit finger in the air,’ admitted a spokesman." } ], "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to feel very happy", "examples": [ { "text": "Most couples feel they are walking on air on their wedding day." } ], "topics": ["Feelings"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening", "examples": [ { "text": "There's romance in the air." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "broadcasting or not broadcasting on television or radio", "examples": [ { "text": "We will be back on air tomorrow morning at 7." }, { "text": "The programme was taken off the air over the summer." } ], "topics": ["TV, radio and news"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "from nowhere or nothing, as if by magic", "examples": [ { "text": "Unfortunately, I can’t just conjure up the money out of thin air!" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to say a name, number, etc. without thinking about it, especially in answer to a question", "examples": [ { "text": "I just plucked a figure out of the air and said : ‘Would £1 000 seem reasonable to you?’" } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "not yet decided", "examples": [ { "text": "Our travel plans are still up in the air." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "in a way that is not friendly and suggests that you think that you are better than other people", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "She walked in with her nose in the air, ignoring everyone." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/eə(r)/", "audio": "ai/air/air__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/er/", "audio": "ai/air/air__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English (in senses (1-3) of noun): from Old French air, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr, denoting the gas. Senses 4 and 6 () of the noun are from French air, probably from Old French aire ‘site, disposition’, from Latin ager, agr- ‘field’ (influenced by senses 1-3). Sense (5) of the noun comes from Italian aria, from Latin aer ‘air’." }