Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, in, or caused by the air.
  • adjective Existing or living in the air.
  • adjective Reaching high into the air; lofty.
  • adjective Suggestive of air, as in lightness; airy.
  • adjective Unsubstantial; imaginary.
  • adjective Of, for, or by means of aircraft.
  • adjective Botany Growing or borne above the ground or water.
  • noun A radio antenna, especially one suspended in or extending into the air.
  • noun An acrobatic maneuver performed in midair, as in skateboarding.
  • noun A flip in which the body turns over sideways with the arms and legs spread similar to a cartwheel.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Belonging or pertaining to the air or atmosphere; inhabiting or frequenting the air; existing or happening in the air; produced by or in the air: as, aërial regions; aërial perspective; aërial songsters; aërial ascents.
  • Consisting of air; partaking of the nature of air; airy; hence, unsubstantial; visionary: as, aërial beings; aërial fancies; an aërial castle.
  • Reaching far into the air; high; lofty; elevated: as, aërial spires; an aërial flight.
  • Possessed of a light and graceful beauty; ethereal.
  • In botany, growing in the air, and independently of the soil, as epiphytes, or the adventitious roots of some trees: as, aërial orchids or roots.
  • A name sometimes applied to systems of transportation by cars suspended from a rail or rope above them.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to the air, or atmosphere; inhabiting or frequenting the air; produced by or found in the air; performed in the air.
  • adjective Consisting of air; resembling, or partaking of the nature of air. Hence: Unsubstantial; unreal.
  • adjective Rising aloft in air; high; lofty.
  • adjective Growing, forming, living, or existing in the air, as opposed to growing or existing in earth or water, or underground.
  • adjective Light as air; ethereal.
  • adjective operating or operated overhead especially on elevated cables.
  • adjective operating or moving in the air.
  • adjective [Obs.] carbonic acid.
  • adjective See Perspective.
  • noun (Football) a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer.
  • noun a metallic wire, rod, or combination of rods connected to an electronic device, designed to send or receive radio or television signals.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective of, in, or from the air; atmospheric
  • adjective ethereal
  • noun chiefly UK A device for receiving or transmitting radio, television signals etc.
  • noun A dance move involving one or both feet leaving the ground.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective existing or living or growing or operating in the air
  • noun an electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals
  • adjective characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air
  • noun a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Latin āerius, from Greek āerios, from āēr, air; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin aerius, from Ancient Greek ἀέριος (aerios).

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Examples

  • Electronic imaging and laser guidance had changed the term aerial bombardment into precision air attack .

    A Nightmare’s Prayer Michael Franzak 2010

  • The mosque administration condemned what it called aerial surveillance of the mosque and spraying of some gases.

    Musharraf's Dilemma in War on Terrorism 2007

  • I was quite patient; the grand open country all round me offered lessons of inestimable value in what we call aerial perspective.

    I Say No Wilkie Collins 1856

  • The North Korean military accused Japan this week of conducting spying missions and warned that it would "not tolerate even a bit" of what it calls aerial reconnaissance by Tokyo, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2009

  • Consider, for example, that until the end of the 20th century hijacking an airliner was defined as "aerial piracy."

    D.R. Burgess: Somali Piracy: Send in the Marines...Then the Lawyers D.R. Burgess 2011

  • THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS: Awarded for extreme valor or achievement while in aerial flight.

    Heroes or Villains? 2010

  • Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flight during operation JUST CAUSE.

    Heroes or Villains? 2010

  • Kate's position is guaranteed; Canada wants her on board as an expert in aerial zoology.

    15. Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel 2009

  • ************************ #2 Staff Sergeant Randall L. Lusk is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during operation Desert Storm.

    Heroes or Villains? 2010

  • Consider, for example, that until the end of the 20th century hijacking an airliner was defined as "aerial piracy."

    D.R. Burgess: Somali Piracy: Send in the Marines...Then the Lawyers D.R. Burgess 2011

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