aerial

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛːrɪəl/

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.
  • 2 (aerials) a type of freestyle skiing in which the skier jumps from a ramp and carries out manoeuvres in the air.

adjective

[attributive]
  • existing, happening, or operating in the air: an aerial battle an intrepid aerial adventurer
  • coming or carried out from the air, especially using aircraft: aerial bombardment of civilian targets aerial photography
  • (of a part of a plant) growing above ground: a huge banyan tree whose aerial roots hung back down to the ground
  • (of a bird) spending much of its time in flight: the more aerial and terrestrial birds are less dependent on a strictly aquatic habitat
  • of or in the atmosphere; atmospheric.

Derivatives

aeriality

Pronunciation: /-ˈalɪti/
noun

aerially

adverb

Origin:

late 16th century (in the sense 'thin as air, imaginary'): via Latin aerius from Greek aerios (from aēr 'air') + -al

Spelling help

Aerial is one of a group of words based on Greek aēr 'air' and therefore spelled aer-. Other words that begin with aer- include aerobic, aeroplane, and aerosol.