(âr) noun
1. The atmosphere of the earth, consisting of a mixture of gases containing approximately 79 percent nitrogen, 19 percent oxygen, and small amounts of other gases including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium, argon, and methane.
2. The open space around and above the earth.
3. An atmospheric movement or current; breeze; wind.
4. Utterance abroad; publicity: to give air to one's views.
5. The medium through which radio waves are transmitted; airways.
6. The representation of atmosphere in painting; atmospheric perspective.
7. Something light and ethereal; wind.
8. Peculiar or characteristic appearance; mien; manner.
9. Assumed manner; affectation: to put on airs.
10. Music A melody as contrasted with a harmony; tune; especially, the leading or soprano part in a harmonized piece.
11. Obs. Breath. See synonyms under TUNE, WIND.
—in the air
1. Prevalent; abroad, as gossip; astir; in the making, as plans.
2. Without foundation in fact; unformed: The project is still in the air.
3. Excited; mentally upset.
—on the air
Broadcasting by radio; being broadcast.
—v.t.
1. To expose to the air; admit air into so as to purify or dry: ventilate.
2. To make public; show off; display; exhibit.
3. Colloq. To broadcast by radio or television. ◆Homophone: heir. [<OF <L aer <) Gk. aer air, mist]
Air may appear as a combining form
in open hyphenated, or closed two-word phrases, with the following meanings:
1 By means of air or the air:

Synonyms (noun): appearance, bearing, behavior, carriage, demeanor, deportment, expression), fashion, look, manner, mien, port, pretense, sort, style, way.
Air is that combination of qualities which makes the entire impression we receive in a person's presence; we say he has the air of a scholar, or the air of a villain. Appearance refers more to dress and other externals. Expression and look especially refer to the face. Expression is more often applied to that which is habitual; as, a pleasant expression: look may be momentary; as, a look of dismay passed over your face. We may, however, speak of the look or looks as indicating all that we look at; as, she had the look of an adventurer. Bearing indicates often the expression of feeling or state of mind through bodily pose; as, a noble bearing: port, practically identical in meaning with bearing, is more exclusively a literary word. Carriage, the manner of holding the body, as in walking, is more completely physical than bearing. Mien is closely synonymous with air, but is a somewhat stilted or literary usage. Compare BEHAVIOR, PRETENSE.

(ä·ir′)
A mountainous region in northern Niger: also Asben. Azben.