Home British & World English aerial

Definition of aerial in English:

aerial

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, hoisted
View synonyms
1. 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.’
2. 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.’
3. 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.’
4. 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, upright
View synonyms
2aerialsA 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!’