air
noun/eə(r)/
/er/
Idioms - [uncountable] the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe
空气 - Let's go out for some fresh air.
咱们出去呼吸点新鲜空气。 - a blast of hot air
一阵热气 - currents of warm air
暖气流 - He stood outside, breathing the cold night air.
他站在外面，呼吸着夜晚寒冷的空气。 - She was gasping for air as she ran out of the burning house.
她从着火的房子中逃出来时上气不接下气。 - whales coming up for air (= in order to breathe)
鲸鱼浮出水面呼吸空气（=为了呼吸） - I need to put some air in my tyres.
我需要给我的轮胎打些气。 - The agreement requires reductions in air pollution.
该协议要求减少空气污染。 - The Act lays down a minimum standard for air quality.
这项法案规定了空气质量的最低标准。
Homophones air | heirair heirsee also sea air/eə(r)//er/- air noun
- I kicked the ball high into the air.
我把球高高地踢到空中。
- I kicked the ball high into the air.
- air verb
- I opened the window to air the room.
我打开窗户让房间通风。
- I opened the window to air the room.
- heir noun
- He left most of his property to his eldest son and heir.
他把大部份财产留给了长子。
- He left most of his property to his eldest son and heir.
Extra ExamplesTopics The environmenta1, Weathera1- He drew in another breath of air.
他又吸了一口气。 - I sat for a moment, inhaling the fresh forest air.
我坐了一会儿，呼吸着林中的新鲜空气。 - It's difficult carrying such heavy loads in the thin air of the mountains.
山里空气稀薄，带着这么重的东西非常吃力。 - Land crabs breathe air and cannot swim.
地蟹会呼吸空气，但不会游泳。 - The cool night air wafted in the open windows.
凉爽的晚风从敞开的窗户飘了进来。 - There are regulatory requirements for clean air and water.
对清洁的空气和水有监管要求。 - They have developed an engine powered by compressed air.
他们研制出一种用压缩空气作动力的发动机。 - We felt a blast of cold air as she opened the door.
她一开门，我们就感到一阵冷风吹来。 - the musty smell of stale air
不新鲜空气的霉味 - the polluted air of our cities
我们城市被污染的空气 - warm currents of air
一股股暖气流 - Nothing moved in the still air.
空气凝滞，一切都纹丝不动。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hot
- warm
- chill
- …
- blast
- gust
- rush
- …
- breathe
- breathe in
- gulp in
- …
- blow
- circulate
- flow
- …
- pollution
- quality
- pressure
- …
- in the air
- into the air
- through the air
- …
- in the open air
- Let's go out for some fresh air.
- [uncountable](usually the air)the space above the ground or that is around things
空中；天空 - Music filled the night air.
乐声荡漾在夜空中。 - in/into the air Wave your hands in the air!
把手举高，摇动起来！ - I kicked the ball high into the air.
我把球高高地踢到空中。 - through the air Spicy smells wafted through the air.
空中飘来一阵阵浓烈的气味。 - He punched the air in triumph.
他高兴地挥了挥拳头。 - The air was thick with cigarette smoke.
空气中满是香烟的烟雾。
Extra Examples- The tang of some wild herb hung in the air.
空气中散发着浓烈的野生草药的气味。 - Suddenly a scream pierced the air.
突然，一声尖叫直刺云天。 - The air was sweet with incense.
空气中弥漫着燃香的香气。 - The dog stretched and sniffed the air.
这只狗伸了伸腿，嗅了嗅气味。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hot
- warm
- chill
- …
- blast
- gust
- rush
- …
- breathe
- breathe in
- gulp in
- …
- blow
- circulate
- flow
- …
- pollution
- quality
- pressure
- …
- in the air
- into the air
- through the air
- …
- in the open air
- Music filled the night air.
- [uncountable] the space above the earth where planes fly
（飞行的）空中，天空 - The temple was clearly visible from the air.
从空中看去，那座庙宇清晰可辨。 - We watched as the helicopter took to the air.
我们看着直升机升空。 - by air It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane).
乘飞机只要三个小时。 - air travel/traffic
航空旅行；空中交通 - air defence systems (= weapons that defend against attacks from the air)
防空系统 - A surprise air attack (= from aircraft) was launched at night.
夜间突然发起了空袭。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryair + noun- travel
- fare
- traffic
- …
- by air
- from the air
- The temple was clearly visible from the air.
- [singular] the particular feeling or impression that is given by somebody/something; the way somebody does something
感觉；印象；神态 - She looked at him with a defiant air.
她用蔑视的神情望着他。 - air of something The room had an air of luxury.
房间具有豪华的气派。 - There was an air of complete confidence about her.
她显得信心十足。
Extra Examples- He had an air of mystery about him.
他显出很神秘的样子。 - He leaned over to Melissa with an air of confidentiality.
他向梅利莎凑过身去，显出很机密的样子。 - You have an air of authority.
你看上去很权威。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + air- have
- retain
- add
- …
- with an/the air
- air of
- She looked at him with a defiant air.
- [countable] (old-fashioned) (often used in the title of a piece of music) a tune
曲调 - Bach’s Air on a G string
巴赫《G 弦上的咏叹调》
- Bach’s Air on a G string
- airs[plural] (disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that somebody thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are
摆架子；装腔作势 - I hate the way she puts on airs.
我不喜欢她那装腔作势的样子。
see also hot air - I hate the way she puts on airs.
gas
space
for planes
impression
tune
behaviour
Word OriginMiddle 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’.
Idioms
airs and graces
- (British English, disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that somebody thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are
摆架子；装腔作势 - Even when he became a star he didn’t have any airs and graces.
即使成了明星，他也没有架子。
- Even when he became a star he didn’t have any airs and graces.
a breath of (fresh) air
- clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere
新鲜空气；透气 - We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
我们午餐时出去透透气。 - I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air.
我要出去呼吸点儿新鲜空气。
- We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
(build) castles in the air
- (to have) plans or dreams that are not likely to happen or come true
（建）空中楼阁；幻想；空想 - As a child he would wander round the boatyards, building castles in the air about owning a boat one day.
小时候，他会在造船厂里闲逛，建造空中楼阁，梦想有一天能拥有一艘船。
- As a child he would wander round the boatyards, building castles in the air about owning a boat one day.
clear the air
- to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.
（通过沟通）改变困境，缓解紧张状态，改善气氛 - This meeting will be an opportunity to clear the air and start the healing process.
这次会议将是一个缓和紧张、弥合分歧的机会。
- This meeting will be an opportunity to clear the air and start the healing process.
- to make the air less dirty or less humid (= warm and wet)
净化空气；除湿 - Storms were supposed to clear the air.
按说暴风雨可以净化空气。
- Storms were supposed to clear the air.
disappear, vanish, etc. into thin air
- to disappear suddenly in a mysterious way
消失得无影无踪；不翼而飞；悄然而逝 - She can’t just have vanished into thin air.
她不可能凭空消失。 - At a stroke she could make things vanish into thin air.
她用手碰到什么就能让它消失不见。
- She can’t just have vanished into thin air.
finger in the air
- (informal) used to refer to an estimate or method of doing something that is not very accurate or scientific and partly based on guessing
拼命干活 - It isn’t an exact science—it’s a kind of finger in the air thing.
这不是一门精确的科学——而是一种悬而未决的事情。 - ‘It’s all a bit finger in the air,’ admitted a spokesman.
一位发言人承认，这只是悬而未决的事情。
- It isn’t an exact science—it’s a kind of finger in the air thing.
float/walk on air
- to feel very happy
欢天喜地；得意扬扬 - Most couples feel they are walking on air on their wedding day.
大多数夫妇在婚礼当天都感觉如履薄冰。
- Most couples feel they are walking on air on their wedding day.
in the air
- felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening
在传播中；流行；可感觉到 - There's romance in the air.
有种浪漫的气氛。
- There's romance in the air.
on/off (the) air
- broadcasting or not broadcasting on television or radio
（电视、广播）正在／停止播送 - We will be back on air tomorrow morning at 7.
明天早上 7 点本节目再见。 - The programme was taken off the air over the summer.
这个节目在夏季停播。
- We will be back on air tomorrow morning at 7.
out of thin air
- from nowhere or nothing, as if by magic
凭空；无中生有地 - Unfortunately, I can’t just conjure up the money out of thin air!
不幸的是，我不能凭空变出钱来！
- Unfortunately, I can’t just conjure up the money out of thin air!
pluck something out of the air
- to say a name, number, etc. without thinking about it, especially in answer to a question
脱口而出；随意回答 - I just plucked a figure out of the air and said : ‘Would £1 000 seem reasonable to you?’
我随口说出一个数字问道：“你看 1 000 英镑合适吗？”
- I just plucked a figure out of the air and said : ‘Would £1 000 seem reasonable to you?’
up in the air
- not yet decided
悬而未决 - Our travel plans are still up in the air.
我们的旅行计划尚未确定。
- Our travel plans are still up in the air.
with your nose in the air
- (informal) in a way that is not friendly and suggests that you think that you are better than other people
傲慢；看不起人；鼻孔朝天，自高自大 - She walked in with her nose in the air, ignoring everyone.
她傲慢地走进来，谁也不理。
- She walked in with her nose in the air, ignoring everyone.