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[air-ing] /ˈɛər ɪŋ/
an exposure to the air, as for drying.
a public discussion or disclosure, as of ideas, proposals, or facts.
a walk, drive, exercise period, etc., in the open air, especially to promote health.
the act of broadcasting on radio or television:
The new comedy program will have its first airing this Friday night.
Origin of airing
1600-10; air1 + -ing1


[air] /ɛər/
a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze.
overhead space; sky:
The planes filled the air.
circulation; publication; publicity:
to give air to one's theories.
the general character or complexion of anything; appearance:
His early work had an air of freshness and originality.
the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person:
There is an air of mystery about him.
airs, affected or unnatural manner; manifestation of pride or vanity; assumed haughtiness:
He acquired airs that were insufferable to his friends.
  1. a tune; melody.
  2. the soprano or treble part.
  3. an aria.
  4. Also, ayre. an Elizabethan art song.
aircraft as a means of transportation:
to arrive by air; to ship goods by air.
Informal. air conditioning or an air-conditioning system:
The price includes tires, radio, and air.
  1. (during an airborne stunt) the height between the ground and an athlete or an athlete with his or her equipment:
    The BMX course was designed for riders to get good air.
  2. such a jump or other airborne stunt:
    The snowboarder took first place with four clean airs.
Radio. the medium through which radio waves are transmitted.
Archaic. breath.
verb (used with object)
to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often followed by out):
We air the bedrooms every day.
to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display:
to air one's opinions; to air one's theories.
to broadcast or televise.
verb (used without object)
to be exposed to the open air (often followed by out):
Open the window and let the room air out.
to be broadcast or televised.
operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air:
an air drill; an air pump.
of or relating to aircraft or to aviation:
air industry.
taking place in the air; aerial:
air war.
The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.
get some air,
  1. to take a break from an unpleasant encounter or stifling environment:
    She walked away from the argument to get some air.
  2. to take a short rest.
get the air, Informal.
  1. to be rejected, as by a lover.
  2. to be dismissed, as by an employer:
give (someone) the air, Informal.
  1. to reject, as a lover:
    He was bitter because she gave him the air.
  2. to dismiss, as an employee.
in the air, in circulation; current:
into thin air, completely out of sight or reach:
He vanished into thin air.
off the air,
  1. not broadcasting:
    The station goes off the air at midnight.
  2. not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast:
    The program went off the air years ago.
on the air, in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast:
put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner:
As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.
take the air,
  1. to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.
  2. Slang. to leave, especially hurriedly.
  3. to begin broadcasting.
up in the air,
  1. Also, in the air. undecided or unsettled:
    The contract is still up in the air.
  2. Informal. angry; perturbed:
walk / tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.
1150-1200; Middle English eir < Old French air < Latin āēr- (accusative āerem) < Greek āer- (stem of āḗr) the lower atmosphere; conflated with (especially for defs 4, 5) French air, Old French aire nature, character < Latin ager field (cf. acre) and ārea threshing floor, clearing, area; and with (for def 7) French air < Italian aria aria
Related forms
airlike, adjective
unaired, adjective
well-aired, adjective
Can be confused
air, e'er, ere, err, heir.
er, err.
2. See wind1 . 5, 6. impression, aspect. 6. aura, demeanor, attitude. See manner1 . Unabridged
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Examples from the Web for airing
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples
  • Upon the stoep of the Hospital, where the long rows of convalescents were airing, every patient appeared plunged in perusal.

    The Dop Doctor Clotilde Inez Mary Graves
  • But they got under way at his order, and ran up the river for a morning airing.

    Four Young Explorers Oliver Optic
  • Consider it let, if you please, to my niece—and be very particular in airing the sheets?

    No Name Wilkie Collins
  • A man sits on the piazza with his clothing hung about him for an airing.

    The Johnstown Horror James Herbert Walker
  • They must insist on airing their views about futurists, or the influence of Botticelli or such truck.

    A Top-Floor Idyl George van Schaick
British Dictionary definitions for airing


  1. exposure to air or warmth, as for drying or ventilation
  2. (as modifier): airing cupboard
an excursion in the open air
exposure to public debate


the mixture of gases that forms the earth's atmosphere. At sea level dry air has a density of 1.226 kilograms per cubic metre and consists of 78.08 per cent nitrogen, 20.95 per cent oxygen, 0.93 per cent argon, 0.03 per cent carbon dioxide, with smaller quantities of ozone and inert gases; water vapour varies between 0 and 4 per cent and in industrial areas sulphur gases may be present as pollutants
the space above and around the earth; sky related adjective aerial
breeze; slight wind
public expression; utterance: to give air to one's complaints
a distinctive quality: an air of mystery
a person's distinctive appearance, manner, or bearing
  1. a simple tune for either vocal or instrumental performance
  2. another word for aria
transportation in aircraft (esp in the phrase by air)
an archaic word for breath (sense 1), breath (sense 2), breath (sense 3)
(Austral, informal) the height gained when getting airborne in surfing, snowboarding, etc
clear the air, to rid a situation of tension or discord by settling misunderstandings, etc
(slang) give someone the air, to reject or dismiss someone
in the air
  1. in circulation; current
  2. in the process of being decided; unsettled
into thin air, leaving no trace behind
off the air, not in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
on the air, in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television
out of thin air, from thin air, suddenly and unexpectedly
take the air, to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride
up in the air
  1. uncertain
  2. (informal) agitated or excited
walk on air, to feel elated or exhilarated
(modifier) (astrology) of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius Compare earth (sense 10), fire (sense 24), water (sense 12)
to expose or be exposed to the air so as to cool or freshen; ventilate: to air a room
to expose or be exposed to warm or heated air so as to dry: to air linen
(transitive) to make known publicly; display; publicize: to air one's opinions
(intransitive) (of a television or radio programme) to be broadcast
See also airs
Word Origin
C13: via Old French and Latin from Greek aēr the lower atmosphere


All India Radio


a mountainous region of N central Niger, in the Sahara, rising to 1500 m (5000 ft): a former native kingdom. Area: about 77 700 sq km (30 000 sq miles) Also called Azbine, Asben
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for airing

"action of exposing to air," c.1600, from present participle of air (v.). Meaning "display, public exposure is from 1870.



c.1300, "invisible gases that make up the atmosphere," from Old French air "atmosphere, breeze, weather" (12c.), from Latin aerem (nominative aer) "air, lower atmosphere, sky," from Greek aer (genitive aeros) "air" (related to aenai "to blow, breathe"), of unknown origin, possibly from a base *awer- and thus related to aeirein "to raise" and arteria "windpipe, artery" (see aorta) on notion of "lifting, that which rises." In Homer mostly "thick air, mist;" later "air" as one of the four elements.

Words for "air" in Indo-European languages tend to be associated with wind, brightness, sky. In English, air Replaced native lyft, luft (see loft (n.)). To be in the air "in general awareness" is from 1875; up in the air "uncertain, doubtful" is from 1752. To build castles in the air is from 1590s (in 17c. English had airmonger "one preoccupied with visionary projects"). Broadcasting sense (e.g. on the air) first recorded 1927. To give (someone) the air "dismiss" is from 1900. Air pollution is attested by 1870.

1590s, "manner, appearance" (e.g. an air of mystery); 1650s, "assumed manner, affected appearance" (especially in phrase put on airs, 1781), from French air "look, appearance, mien, bearing, tone" (Old French aire "reality, essence, nature, descent, extraction," 12c.; cf. debonair), from Latin ager "place, field" (see acre) on notion of "place of origin."

But some French sources connect this Old French word with the source of air (n.1), and it also is possible these senses in English developed from or were influenced by air (n.1); cf. sense development of atmosphere and Latin spiritus "breath, breeze," also "high spirit, pride," and the extended senses of anima.

"melody, tune," 1580s, from Italian aria (see aria).


"to expose to open air," 1520s, from air (n.1). Figurative sense of "to expose, make public" is from 1610s of objects, 1862 of opinions, grievances, etc. Meaning "to broadcast" (originally on radio) is from 1933. Related: Aired; airing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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airing in Medicine

air (âr)

  1. A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, approximately 78 percent nitrogen and approximately 21 percent oxygen with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.

  2. This mixture, with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping Earth; the atmosphere.

  3. Any of various respiratory gases. No longer in technical use.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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airing in Science
The colorless, odorless, tasteless mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. Air consists of about 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, with the remaining part made up mainly of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, and krypton in decreasing order of volume. Air also contains varying amounts of water vapor, particulate matter such as dust and soot, and chemical pollutants.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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Slang definitions & phrases for airing



To broadcast by radio or television: toair a new miniseries

Related Terms

a bear in the air, dance on air, full of hot air, get the air, give someone the air, go up in the air, grab a handful of air, hot air, suck air, up in the air

Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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Related Abbreviations for airing


American Institutes for Research
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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airing in the Bible

the atmosphere, as opposed to the higher regions of the sky (1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 9:2; 16:17). This word occurs once as the rendering of the Hebrew _ruah_ (Job 41:16); elsewhere it is the rendering of _shamaiyim_, usually translated "heavens." The expression "to speak into the air" (1 Cor. 14:9) is a proverb denoting to speak in vain, as to "beat the air" (1 Cor. 9:26) denotes to labour in vain.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms and Phrases with airing
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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