aerial

English Online Dictionary. What means aerial‎? What does aerial mean?

English

Alternative forms

• aërial (archaic)

Etymology

From Latin āerius +‎ -al, from Ancient Greek ἀέριος (aérios), from ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”).

Pronunciation

• (General American, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈɛɹiəl/
• (Received Pronunciation, Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /ˈɛəɹɪəl/, /ˈɛəɹiəl/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /eɪˈɪəɹɪəl/, /eɪˈɛəɹɪəl/
• Homophones: areal, Ariel
• Rhymes: -ɛəɹiəl

Adjective

aerial (comparative more aerial, superlative most aerial)

1. Living or taking place in the air. [from 16th c.]

2. (now literary or historical) Made up of air or gas; gaseous. [from 16th c.]
3. Positioned high up; elevated. [from 16th c.]

4. Ethereal, insubstantial; imaginary. [from 16th c.]
5. Pertaining to the air or atmosphere; atmospheric. [from 17th c.]
6. (aviation) Pertaining to a vehicle which travels through the air; airborne; relating to or conducted by means of aircraft. [from 17th c.]
7. (botany) Above the ground

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

aerial (plural aerials)

1. (chiefly UK) A rod, wire, or other structure for receiving or transmitting radio, television signals etc.
2. A move, as in dancing or skateboarding, involving one or both feet leaving the ground.
3. (photography) An aerial photograph.

Usage notes

Some make a distinction between an antenna and an aerial, with the former used to indicate a rigid structure, and the latter consisting of a wire strung in the air. For those who do not make a distinction, antenna is more commonly used in the United States and Australia, while aerial is more commonly used in the United Kingdom.

Synonyms

• (device for receiving or transmitting): antenna
• (dance move involving one or both feet leaving the ground): air step, acrobatic

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• realia