plein air

[ pleyn-air; French ple ner ]

/ ˈpleɪn ˈɛər; French plɛ ˈnɛr /

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noun

the open air, especially the daylight of outdoors.

Fine Arts. the quality of light and atmosphere out of doors, especially this quality as rendered in painting.

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Origin of plein air

1890–95; <French: literally, full air

Words nearby plein air

pledget, pledgor, -plegia, Pleiad, Pleiades, plein air, pleio-, Pleiocene, pleiotaxy, pleiotropic, pleiotropic gene

Other definitions for plein air (2 of 2)

plein-air

[ pleyn-air; French ple-ner ]

/ ˌpleɪnˈɛər; French plɛˈnɛr /

adjective

pertaining to a manner or style of painting developed chiefly in France in the mid-19th century, characterized by the representation of the luminous effects of natural light and atmosphere as contrasted with the artificial light and absence of the sense of air or atmosphere associated with paintings produced in the studio.

designating a painting executed out of doors and representing a direct response to the scene or subject in front of the artist.

(of a painting) having the qualities of air and natural light.

Origin of plein-air

First recorded in 1890–95; adj. use of plein air

OTHER WORDS FROM plein-air

plein-airism, nounplein-airist, noun

How to use plein air in a sentence

And Air Force assessors are the first to say such imaging never tells the whole story.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sprawled on chaise lounges with their knees high in the air and their legs spread wide.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, Lion Air, with 45 percent of the domestic Indonesian airline market, has swallowed the Fernandes formula whole.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There is a larger reason, beyond the airlines themselves, why Lion Air and 61 other Indonesian airlines are on this black list.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The Pentagon said Faal served in the Air Force for seven years, during which time he became a U.S. citizen.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country|Jacob Siegel|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bells were pealing and tolling in all directions, and the air was filled with the sound of distant shouts and cries.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
It is to be remembered, however, that a few of these bacteria may reach the sputum from the upper air-passages.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
We had now approached closely to the foot of the mountain-ranges, and their lofty summits were high above us in mid-air.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
He stood, with the air of a hero, both arms extended towards the amazed pair of lovers.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Their method of curing the leaves was to air-dry them and then packing them until wanted for use.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for plein air

plein-air

/ (ˌpleɪnˈɛə, French plɛnɛr) /

adjective

of or in the manner of various French 19th-century schools of painting, esp impressionism, concerned with the observation of light and atmosphere effects outdoors

Derived forms of plein-air

plein-airist (ˌpleɪnˈɛərɪst), noun

Word Origin for plein-air

C19: from French phrase en plein air in the open (literally: full) air

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012