Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.
15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.
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.
{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.
{To take air}, to be divulged; to be made public.
{To take the air}, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.
Balloon \Bal*loon"\, n. [F. ballon, aug. of balle ball: cf. It.
ballone. See 1st {Ball}, n., and cf. {Pallone}.]
1. A bag made of silk or other light material, and filled
with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float
in the atmosphere; especially, one with a car attached for
a["e]rial navigation.
2. (Arch.) A ball or globe on the top of a pillar, church,
etc., as at St. Paul's, in London. [R.]
3. (Chem.) A round vessel, usually with a short neck, to hold
or receive whatever is distilled; a glass vessel of a
spherical form.
4. (Pyrotechnics) A bomb or shell. [Obs.]
5. A game played with a large inflated ball. [Obs.]
6. (Engraving) The outline inclosing words represented as
coming from the mouth of a pictured figure.
{Air balloon}, a balloon for a["e]rial navigation.
{Balloon frame} (Carp.), a house frame constructed altogether
of small timber.
{Balloon net}, a variety of woven lace in which the weft
threads are twisted in a peculiar manner around the warp.