air
Old FrenchVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Old French air (air, atmosphere), via Latin aer, ultimately from Greek aēr. As a standalone English word and root, it generates a large family of compounds — airplane, airline, airspace, airborne, airmail. Most are transparent in meaning. This Germanic-influenced form runs parallel to the more learned Greek root aer-/aero-.
Associated Words
air
To bring (something) into contact with the air, so as to freshen or dry it; The substance constituting Earth's atmosphere: a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and various trace gases
air-traffic-control
The system for managing safe movement of aircraft
airborne
Carried through the air; in flight; airborne troops
aircraft
A vehicle capable of flying through the air
airline
A company providing scheduled passenger flights
airmail
Mail transported by aircraft; to send mail by air
airplane
A powered fixed-wing aircraft
airsickness
Nausea caused by aircraft motion
airspace
The atmosphere above a territory, especially under a nation's jurisdiction