aerial

views updated Jun 27 2018

aer·i·al / ˈe(ə)rēəl/ • adj. existing, happening, or operating in the air: an aerial battle. ∎  coming or carried out from the air, esp. using aircraft: aerial photography. ∎  (of part of a plant) growing above ground: knobby sections of aerial roots. ∎  (of a bird) spending much of its time in flight. ∎  of or in the atmosphere; atmospheric. ∎  insubstantial and hard to grasp or define: fine and aerial distinctions. • n. 1. another term for antenna (sense 2): jiggle the aerial on the radio.2. (aerials) a type of maneuver in gymnastics, skiing, or surfing involving freestyle jumps or somersaults.DERIVATIVES: aer·i·al·ly adv.

aerial

views updated May 14 2018

aerial pert. to or resembling air or the atmosphere. XVII. f. L. āerius (f. Gr. āérios, f. āḗr, āer- AIR) + -AL1.

aerial

views updated May 23 2018

aerial (antenna) Conductor component of radio and television systems for the broadcast and transmission of signals. An aerial's design usually depends on the wavelength of the signal.