adj. 1. Of, in, or caused by the air. 2. Existing or living in the air. 3. Reaching high into the air; lofty. 4. Suggestive of air, as in lightness; airy. 5. Unsubstantial; imaginary. 6. Of, for, or by means of aircraft: aerial photography. 7. Botany Growing or borne above the ground or water: aerial roots. n. (ârē-əl) 1. A radio antenna, especially one suspended in or extending into the air. 2. Sports a. An acrobatic maneuver performed in midair, as in skateboarding. b. A flip in which the body turns over sideways with the arms and legs spread similar to a cartwheel. [From Latin āerius, from Greek āerios, from āēr, air; see wer-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.