One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
adjective
1attributive Existing, happening, or operating in the air.
‘an aerial battle’‘an intrepid aerial adventurer’- ‘He stared, wide eyed, as the flames floated down to the planet below the aerial battle.’
- ‘Dublin commanded proceedings by keeping the ball in the air and winning the aerial battle.’
- ‘Europeans have a vast network of aerial tramways, ski lifts, and public transportation.’
- ‘They are refillable during aerial refuel operations.’
- ‘What sets our game apart from the others is the enormous aerial battles that were prevalent at the time.’
- ‘Most of the Barbarians had stopped their fighting, and now watched the aerial battle.’
- ‘The guard outside turned his head to look at the aerial battle as he finished up.’
- ‘He began to fear the training for the aerial battles.’
- ‘One especially valuable contribution of the book is its analysis of numerous small aerial battles.’
- ‘He appeared with regularity at both ends of the field, won quite a few aerial battles and most importantly, a lot of breaks.’
- ‘An American pilot sacrificed his life in an aerial battle with Japanese planes in defence of Shanghai.’
- ‘We should see lots of aerial lifts and stunning drops.’
- ‘One such area is operating and maintaining unmanned aerial vehicles.’
- ‘Periodically, we are treated to ethereal aerial battles.’
- ‘And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind.’
- ‘Just what will happen when an aerial appliance is needed?’
- ‘No aerial operations were mounted on September 9.’
- ‘The three of them continued to circle around each other in the endless waltz of the aerial battle.’
- ‘The winners were especially to the fore in the aerial battles where they dominated a physically weaker Kerry outfit.’
- ‘He has been spotted in the aerial battles and has caused a few of our kin to drop from the skies.’
raised, upraised, uplifted, lifted up, high up, aloft, overhead, hoistedView synonyms- 1.1 Coming or carried out from the air, especially using aircraft.‘aerial bombardment of civilian targets’‘aerial photography’
- ‘The aircraft is also capable of carrying a range of aerial bombs with a total weight up to 40 tons.’
- ‘Both aircraft were utilised for aerial reconnaissance, and flew more than 100 hours.’
- ‘It also explains the reliance on aerial bombardment of civilians.’
- ‘The aerial photography specialist took the picture using a top-of-the-range camera.’
- ‘But instead of calling up a drawn map, the site uses pictures taken from satellites and aircraft to give an aerial view of a territory.’
- ‘He was at the scene yesterday and was one of the team which carried out an aerial assessment.’
- ‘It's been 10 days since that massive aerial bombardment.’
- ‘The research could also be used in traffic monitoring, aerial photography and detecting hazardous substances.’
- ‘They are also used in GIS offices to scan in existing maps and aerial photographs.’
- ‘Then, we have much more public things that happen, like the aerial shooting of wolves in Alaska.’
- ‘The aircraft was used for aerial mapping.’
- ‘Italy was at war with Libya, and began using aircraft and airships for aerial reconnaissance.’
- ‘Instead, its primary mission was to protect Red Army operations from aerial attacks by the enemy.’
- ‘I do not find the absence of aircraft from the 1986 aerial photograph to be evidence of abandonment.’
- ‘Some European countries still do not allow aerial photography by civilians.’
- ‘Prominent among these were U - 2 reconnaissance aircraft, which began taking aerial photography of Cuban territory.’
- ‘A helicopter was dispatched to carry out an aerial assessment of the rural situation.’
- ‘There's satellite inventory; there's aerial photography; there's video links; there's a whole raft of things we can tap into now.’
- ‘Some people specialize in aerial photography.’
- ‘He evolved into a remarkably well-rounded explorer - a pioneer of geography and aerial photography.’
- 1.2 (of a part of a plant) growing above ground.‘a huge banyan tree whose aerial roots hung back down to the ground’
- ‘All primary aerial surfaces of plants are covered by a cuticle.’
- ‘Most of these studies have focused mainly on targeting genes in the aerial parts of the plant.’
- ‘Nicotine and tropane alkaloids are formed in the roots and transported to the aerial parts of the plant.’
- ‘Simple trichomes are present on aerial surfaces of most angiosperms and on some gymnosperms and bryophytes.’
- ‘The harvested root and aerial parts of the plant are used.’
- 1.3 (of a bird) spending much of its time in flight.‘the more aerial and terrestrial birds are less dependent on a strictly aquatic habitat’
- ‘Though bats and birds are both aerial creatures, records of their interaction have been extremely rare.’
- ‘Swifts are the most rapid fliers known among living creatures and the most aerial of birds…’
- ‘It also has a tiny beak with a large gape which help the bird catch its aerial prey.’
- ‘Analyses of the energetic costs of flight have identified optimal strategies for aerial bats, birds, and insects.’
- ‘But hawk owls, perhaps descended from bird hunters, are skilled aerial predators in their own right.’
- 1.4 Of or in the atmosphere; atmospheric.
- ‘Tests are under way to determine the safety and effectiveness of aerial applications.’
- ‘Air conditioner filters help preserve the walls and fixtures by removing dust and other aerial particles.’
- ‘There's some information there suggesting that there's no regulation of aerial spraying and that there's no policing.’
- ‘Despite evidence of the carcinogenic properties of pesticides, aerial spraying remains widespread.’
- ‘One man reported major fish kills in the wild after aerial sprayings of DDT.’
noun
1British A rod, wire, or other structure by which signals are transmitted or received as part of a radio or television transmission or receiving system.
- ‘The driver had found a handkerchief and tied it round the radio aerial as a makeshift white flag.’
- ‘Immediately below the vision aerial is the aerial for the accompanying sound transmissions.’
- ‘The boot opens by remote control, and the radio aerial is cleverly hidden in the rear spoiler.’
- ‘He's up on a television aerial just across the road.’
- ‘Vandals also ripped a television aerial off the roof.’
flagpole, flagstaff, pole, post, rod, support, uprightView synonyms2aerialsA type of freestyle skiing in which the skier jumps from a ramp and carries out manoeuvres in the air.
- ‘You boys aren't gonna be able to do those aerials in there, are you?’
- ‘Also impressive in these Olympics was a double win for Canadians in the aerials.’
- ‘In one smooth motion he then aerials to a lower landing, then hurdles onto another.’
- ‘I want aerials, spread eagles, toe touches, and anything else you can think of.’
- ‘Now, I want everyone to get into formation behind me and we're going to practice synchronized aerials!’
Origin
Late 16th century (in the sense ‘thin as air, imaginary’): via Latin aerius from Greek aerios (from aēr ‘air’) + -al.