14. (Paint.)
(a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of
the atmospheric medium through which every object in
nature is viewed. --New Am. Cyc.
(b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of
that portrait has a good air. --Fairholt.
15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.
Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a
compound term. In most cases it might be written
indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the
first element of the compound term, with or without the
hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder;
air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump.
Air balloon. See Balloon.
Air bath.
(a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body.
(b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any
desired temperature.
Air castle. See Castle in the air, under Castle.
Air compressor, a machine for compressing air to be used as
a motive power.
Air crossing, a passage for air in a mine.
Air cushion, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated;
also, a device for arresting motion without shock by
confined air.
Air fountain, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by
the force of compressed air.
Air furnace, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and
not on blast.
Air line, a straight line; a bee line. Hence
Air-line, adj.; as, air-line road.
Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between
the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a
pneumatic caisson. --Knight.
Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit
air.
Air spring, a spring in which the elasticity of air is
utilized.
Air thermometer, a form of thermometer in which the
contraction and expansion of air is made to measure
changes of temperature.
Air threads, gossamer.
Air trap, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas
from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap.
Air trunk, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated
air from a room.
Air valve, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of
air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler
and allows air to enter.
Air way, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of
an air pump; an air way in a mine.
In the air.
(a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as
rumors.
(b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled.
(c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken
in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air.
To take air, to be divulged; to be made public.
To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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