Part 160

Air*om"e*ter (&?;), n. [Air + - meter.] A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open below, and has its open end plunged into water.

Air" pipe` (&?;). A pipe for the passage of air; esp. a ventilating pipe.

Air" plant` (&?;). (Bot.) A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an aërophyte.

The "Florida moss" (Tillandsia), many tropical orchids, and most mosses and lichens are air plants. Those which are lodged upon trees, but not parasitic on them, are epiphytes.

Air" poise` (&?;). [See Poise.] An instrument to measure the weight of air.

Air" pump` (&?;). 1. (Physics) A kind of pump for exhausting air from a vessel or closed space; also, a pump to condense air or force it into a closed space.

2. (Steam Engines) A pump used to exhaust from a condenser the condensed steam, the water used for condensing, and any commingled air.

Air" sac` (&?;). (Anat.) One of the spaces in different parts of the bodies of birds, which are filled with air and connected with the air passages of the lungs; an air cell.

Air" shaft` (&?;). A passage, usually vertical, for admitting fresh air into a mine or a tunnel.

Air"-slacked` (&?;), a. Slacked, or pulverized, by exposure to the air; as, air-slacked lime.

Air" stove` (&?;). A stove for heating a current of air which is directed against its surface by means of pipes, and then distributed through a building.

Air"-tight` (&?;), a. So tight as to be impermeable to air; as, an air-tight cylinder.

Air"-tight`, n. A stove the draft of which can be almost entirely shut off. [Colloq. U. S.]

Air" ves`sel (&?;). A vessel, cell, duct, or tube containing or conducting air; as the air vessels of insects, birds, plants, etc.; the air vessel of a pump, engine, etc. For the latter, see Air chamber. The air vessels of insects are called tracheæ, of plants spiral vessels.

{ Air"ward (&?;), Air"wards (&?;), } adv. Toward the air; upward. [R.] Keats.

Air"y (&?;), a. 1. Consisting of air; as, an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies.

2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aërial; as, an airy flight. "The airy region." Milton.

3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy; as, an airy situation.

4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike. "An airy spirit." Shak.

5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful; as, airy music.

6. Without reality; having no solid foundation; empty; trifling; visionary. "Airy fame." Shak.

Empty sound, and airy notions. Roscommon.

7. Light of heart; vivacious; sprightly; flippant; superficial. "Merry and airy." Jer. Taylor.

8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand. [Colloq.]

9. (Paint.) Having the light and aërial tints true to nature. Elmes.

Aisle (&?;), n. [OF. ele, F. aile, wing, wing of a building, L. ala, contr. fr. axilla.] (Arch.) (a) A lateral division of a building, separated from the middle part, called the nave, by a row of columns or piers, which support the roof or an upper wall containing windows, called the clearstory wall. (b) Improperly used also for the have; -- as in the phrases, a church with three aisles, the middle aisle. (c) Also (perhaps from confusion with alley), a passage into which the pews of a church open.

Aisled (&?;), a. Furnished with an aisle or aisles.

Ais"less (&?;), a. Without an aisle.