adj
Common
aerial
EH-uh-ree-uhl
Aerial (adj) means happening in or relating to the air, especially from above. Example: “Birds perform aerial displays above the field every spring.”
adj
1
Happening in or relating to the air, especially from above.
"Birds perform aerial displays above the field every spring."
"The photographer captured stunning aerial shots of the coastline."
"The military launched an aerial assault at dawn."
noun
1
British term for an antenna used to receive radio or television signals.
"The picture was fuzzy until Dad fixed the aerial on the chimney."
"You can buy a small indoor aerial for a portable radio."
"A storm knocked the TV aerial off the roof."
2
A jump or trick performed while in the air, as in skiing, snowboarding, or gymnastics.
"The gymnast practised her aerial for hours before the show."
"The crowd cheered when the snowboarder pulled off a huge aerial."
"The skier landed a perfect aerial to win the competition."
How to use aerial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to the air, or (in British English) the rod-like device that picks up broadcast signals.
UK vs US
British English says "aerial" for the device that receives TV/radio signals; American English usually says "antenna."
Common pairings
aerial view
aerial photography
TV aerial
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Word forms
- Plural
- aerials
- Comparative
- more aerial
- Superlative
- most aerial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Birds perform _____ displays above the field every spring.
Etymology
From Latin āerius, from Ancient Greek ἀήρ, "air," plus the ending -ial.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for aerial
See all rhymes for aerial →Frequently asked questions
What does “aerial” mean?
The word “aerial” means happening in or relating to the air, especially from above. In plain terms, relating to the air, or (in British English) the rod-like device that picks up broadcast signals.
How do you pronounce “aerial”?
“Aerial” is pronounced EH-uh-ree-uhl (/ˈɛəɹiəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “aerial” in a sentence?
Here is “aerial” used in a sentence: “The photographer captured stunning aerial shots of the coastline.”
What part of speech is “aerial”?
Depending on how it is used, “aerial” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “aerial” come from?
The word “aerial” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin āerius, from Ancient Greek ἀήρ, "air," plus the ending -ial.
Is “aerial” a common word?
“Aerial” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “aerial” have?
“Aerial” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening in or relating to the air, especially from above.
What is the difference between an aerial and an antenna?
They refer to the same device for receiving radio or television signals. "Aerial" is the usual British term, while "antenna" is more common in American English.
What is the difference between "aerial" and "Arial"?
They sound similar but are unrelated. "Aerial" relates to the air or things done from above, whereas "Arial" (spelled A-r-i-a-l) is the name of a typeface.
What is an aerial in gymnastics or skiing?
It is a jump or trick performed while in the air. The term covers airborne moves in sports such as skiing, snowboarding, and gymnastics.
What are common phrases that use "aerial"?
Common collocations include "aerial view," "aerial photography," and "aerial survey." Each describes something happening in, or seen from, the air.
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