Air valve

Air valve
Air Air ([^a]r), n. [OE. air, eir, F. air, L. a["e]r, fr. Gr. 'ah`r, air, mist, for 'a[digamma]hr, fr. root 'a[digamma] to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. wind. In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. aria, or due to confusion with F. aire, in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. {A["e]ry}, {Debonair}, {Malaria}, {Wind}.] 1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable. [1913 Webster]

Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water. [1913 Webster]

2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. ``Charm ache with air.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

He was still all air and fire. [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water.] --Macaulay . [1913 Webster]

3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, etc. [1913 Webster]

4. Any a["e]riform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital air. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind. [1913 Webster]

Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

6. Odoriferous or contaminated air. [1913 Webster]

7. That which surrounds and influences. [1913 Webster]

The keen, the wholesome air of poverty. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent. [1913 Webster]

You gave it air before me. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

10. (Mus.) (a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria. (b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called the air. [1913 Webster]

11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien; demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. ``His very air.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner; style. [1913 Webster]

It was communicated with the air of a secret. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

12. pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

14. (Paint.) (a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. --New Am. Cyc. (b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. --Fairholt. [1913 Webster]

15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse. [1913 Webster]

Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump. [1913 Webster]

{Air balloon}. See {Balloon}.

{Air bath}. (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature.

{Air castle}. See {Castle in the air}, under {Castle}.

{Air compressor}, a machine for compressing air to be used as a motive power.

{Air crossing}, a passage for air in a mine.

{Air cushion}, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a device for arresting motion without shock by confined air.

{Air fountain}, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the force of compressed air.

{Air furnace}, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not on blast.

{Air line}, a straight line; a bee line. Hence

{Air-line}, adj.; as, air-line road.

{Air lock} (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson. --Knight.

{Air port} (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air.

{Air spring}, a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized.

{Air thermometer}, a form of thermometer in which the contraction and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature.

{Air threads}, gossamer.

{Air trap}, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap.

{Air trunk}, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from a room.

{Air valve}, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to enter.

{Air way}, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air pump; an air way in a mine.

{In the air}. (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air.

{on the air}, currently transmitting; live; -- used of radio and television broadcasts, to indicate that the images and sounds being picked up by cameras and microphones are being broadcast at the present moment.

Note: In call-in programs where individuals outside a radio or television studio have telephoned into the station, when their voice is being directly broadcast, the host of the program commonly states ``You're on the air.'' as a warning that the conversation is not private.

{To take air}, to be divulged; to be made public.

{To take the air}, to go abroad; to walk or ride out. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Air valve — Valve Valve, n. [L. valva the leaf, fold, or valve of a door: cf. F. valve.] [1913 Webster] 1. A door; especially, one of a pair of folding doors, or one of the leaves of such a door. [1913 Webster] Swift through the valves the visionary fair… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • air valve — n. a valve by which the entrance or escape of air can be regulated …   English World dictionary

  • air valve — a device for controlling the flow of air, as from a pipe or tank. * * * air valve, a valve for controlling the flow of air into or out of pipes or enclosures …   Useful english dictionary

  • air valve — pneumatinis vožtuvas statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. air valve; pneumatic valve vok. Luftklappe, f rus. воздушный клапан, m; пневмоклапан, m pranc. soupape à air, f …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • air valve — valve which controls the flow of air …   English contemporary dictionary

  • air-valve carburetor — A type in which a spring closed or weight closed air valve opens in response to engine demand. This valve, through suitable linkage, varies the fuel orifice opening to secure the desired mixture ratio throughout the range of operation. SU and… …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • air valve carburetor — See air valve carburetor …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • air valve — /ˈɛə vælv/ (say air valv) noun 1. a device for controlling the flow of air through a pipe. 2. a device for releasing air that has accumulated in a pipeline, as at the top of a hill …  

  • air valve — a device for controlling the flow of air, as from a pipe or tank. * * * …   Universalium

  • Air valve — Золотник; Воздушный клапан …   Краткий толковый словарь по полиграфии

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”