aerial

[air-ee-uhl, ey-eer-ee-uhl, air-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. of, in, or produced by the air.

   aerial currents.

2. inhabiting or frequenting the air.

   aerial creatures.

3. operating on a track or cable elevated above the ground.

   an aerial ski lift up the mountainside.

4. reaching far into the air; high; lofty.

   aerial spires.

5. partaking of the nature of air; airy.

6. unsubstantial; visionary.

   aerial fancies.

7. having a light and graceful beauty; ethereal.

   aerial music.

8. Biology.,  growing in the air, as the adventitious roots of some trees.

9. pertaining to or used for, against, or in aircraft.

10. supplied or performed by means of aircraft.

    aerial support; aerial reconnaissance.

noun

1. a radio or television antenna.

2. Football.,  forward pass.

aerial

/ ˈɛərɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling air

2. existing, occurring, moving, or operating in the air

   aerial cable car

   aerial roots of a plant

3. ethereal; light and delicate

4. imaginary; visionary

5. extending high into the air; lofty

6. of or relating to aircraft

   aerial combat

noun

1. Also called: antenna. the part of a radio or television system having any of various shapes, such as a dipole, Yagi, long-wire, or vertical aerial, by means of which radio waves are transmitted or received

Other Word Forms

• aerially adverb
• aerialness noun
• superaerial adjective
• superaerially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of aerial¹

1595–1605; 1900–05 aerial for def. 11; < Latin āeri ( us ) of the air (< Greek āérios, equivalent to āer- (stem of āḗr air ¹ ) + -ios adj. suffix) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of aerial¹

C17: via Latin from Greek aērios, from aēr air

Example Sentences

An aerial photo taken in 2014 revealed the unmistakable layout of a church below the surface of the water.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fuel tanker convoys have started returning to Bamako due to escorts provided by the army and Russian paramilitaries from the Africa Corps -- the successor to the Wagner group -- under aerial surveillance.

Read more on Barron's

The helitanker lease, costing slightly less than $1 million, would support aerial attacks of flames that are difficult for crews on the ground to reach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"We confirmed that an unmanned aerial vehicle believed to be Chinese, passed between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan on Monday," Japan's defence ministry said on X.

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The Brazilian had been an ever-present in Arsenal's incredibly strong defensive start to the season, leading the way in aerial duals and clearances and making the joint second highest number of blocks in the league.

Read more on BBC