airy

English

Etymology

air +‎ -y

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛəɹ.i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɛəɹ.i/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛəɹi

Adjective

airy (comparative airier, superlative airiest)

1. Consisting of air.

   an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies

2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aerial.

   an airy flight

3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy.
   • 1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 255:

     It was a good solid house, fanless but airy.

   an airy situation

4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike.
   • 1977 July 10, Jim Shooter, “Beware the Ant-Man!”, in Avengers, volume 1, number 161, panel 5, Marvel Comics, page 14:

     Neither diamond-hardness nor airy intangibility can save you from this, the searing agony of death!

5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful.

   airy music

6. Not based on reality; having no solid foundation

   Synonyms: empty, trifling, visionary

   • 1859 December 13, Charles Dickens, “The Ghost in Master B’s Room”, in Charles Dickens, editor, The Haunted House. The Extra Christmas Number of All the Year Round , volume II, London: C. Whiting, , →OCLC, page 30:

     Ah me, ah me! No other ghost has haunted the boy’s room, my friends, since I have occupied it, than the ghost of my own childhood, the ghost of my own innocence, the ghost of my own airy belief.

7. light-hearted; vivacious

   Synonyms: sprightly, flippant, superficial

8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand.
9. (painting) Having the light and aerial tints true to nature.
10. (of a room or building) Spacious, well lit, well ventilated.
    • 2020 December 2, Andy Coward, “New-look Reading is willing and able”, in Rail, page 59:

      The station has a bright and airy feel and the refurbishment works have provided a modern and inviting station environment for passengers.

Synonyms

• (consisting of air): aereous
• (resembling air): aereous; See also Thesaurus:insubstantial or Thesaurus:gaseous
• (relating to the spirit or soul): ethereal
• (not based on reality): empty, trifling, visionary
• (light-hearted; vivacious): flippant, sprightly, superficial; See also Thesaurus:active or Thesaurus:carefree
• (having an affected manner): See also Thesaurus:arrogant

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• Iyar, Riya, Yair, yair, yari