airy

[ air-ee ]

adjective

, air·i·er, air·i·est.

1. open to a free current of fresh air; breezy:

   airy rooms.

2. consisting of or having the character of air; immaterial:

   airy phantoms.

3. light in appearance; thin:

   airy garments.

4. light in manner; sprightly; lively:

   airy songs.

   Synonyms: merry, jaunty

5. light in movement; graceful; delicate:

   an airy step.

6. light as air; unsubstantial; unreal; imaginary:

   airy dreams.

   Synonyms: illusory, fanciful

7. visionary; speculative.
8. performed in the air; aerial.
9. lofty; high in the air.
10. putting on airs; affected; snobbish:

    an airy debutante posing for society photographers.

airy

¹

/ ˈɛərɪ /

adjective

1. abounding in fresh air
2. spacious or uncluttered
3. nonchalant; superficial
4. visionary; fanciful

   airy promises

   airy plans

5. of or relating to air
6. weightless and insubstantial

   an airy gossamer

7. light and graceful in movement
8. having no material substance

   airy spirits

9. high up in the air; lofty
10. performed in the air; aerial

Airy

²

/ ˈɛərɪ /

noun

1. AirySir George Biddell18011892MBritishSCIENCE: astronomer Sir George Biddell . 1801–92, British astronomer, noted for his estimate of the earth's density from gravity measurements in mines; astronomer royal (1835–81)

Word History and Origins

Origin of airy¹

1350–1400; Middle English ayery; air ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

He laments labor exploitation and the ongoing production of poverty, and he does so at first in ways that in another kind of book would lead to leaden axioms or airy theories.

From Washington Post

In the summer drying season, the flats still teem with laborers harvesting salt manually, but there is now a large, airy plant where salt is washed, ground, and iodized in huge metal vats.

From MIT Technology Review

It had an “airy crunch with a classic appeal,” that “would hold up to milk, which is nice.”

From Washington Post

It’s not as light and airy as the Columbia, but with its polyester and nearly as many pores as the Strata, it breathed well.

From Outside Online

That’s where you’re just getting this massive amount of these light, airy aerosols that can just float in the air.

From Voice of San Diego

Her delivery—airy and a little tepid—is familiar from her long-running reality series.

From The Daily Beast

A gorgeous, glistening rendition of “Lost Cause” came next, and the airy Morning Phase standout “Blue Moon” ended the sequence.

From The Daily Beast

An airy acoustic guitar begins to strum; a synthesized orchestra begins to swell.

From The Daily Beast

It was this combination of elusive, airy wit, and easy charm—and her passion for me—that was my lifeline.

From The Daily Beast

Her work covers the walls of her airy and cluttered Venice studio.

From The Daily Beast

I have seen the Indians of Bon-Airy do it, and have myself tried the experiment.

From Project Gutenberg

They enclosed him within their circle, and their light and airy forms sped swiftly about him.

From Project Gutenberg

It was big and cool and airy, in spite of the fact that supper preparations were going on at one end of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Mount Airy is built of brown stone and trimmed with light stone furnishing a colorful contrast.

From Project Gutenberg

The theme had changed—light, airy, sparkling, it reminded the girls of fairies dancing on the grass in the moonlight.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cheerful
• cheery
• graceful