ai r traf|fic con|tro l
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Air traffic control is the activity of organizing the routes that aircraft should follow, and telling pilots by radio which routes they should take. □ …the nation's overburdened air-traffic-control system.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [with sing or pl verb] Air traffic control is the group of people who organize the routes aircraft take. □ They have to wait for clearance from air traffic control.
ai r traf|fic con|tro l|ler (air traffic controllers ) N‑COUNT An air traffic controller is someone whose job is to organize the routes that aircraft should follow, and to tell pilots by radio which routes they should take.
air|waves /eə r we I vz/ also air waves
1 N‑PLURAL The airwaves is used to refer to the activity of broadcasting on radio and television. For example, if someone says something over the airwaves , they say it on the radio or television. [JOURNALISM ] □ The election campaign has been fought not in street rallies but on the airwaves.
2 N‑PLURAL Airwaves are the radio waves which are used in radio and television broadcasting.
air|way /eə r we I / (airways )
1 N‑COUNT A person's airways are the passages from their nose and mouth down to their lungs, through which air enters and leaves their body. □ …an inflammation of the airways.
2 N‑PLURAL The airways are all the routes that planes can travel along. □ How does a private pilot get access to the airways?
3 N‑PLURAL Airways means the same as airwaves . □ The interview went out over the airways.
air|woman /eə r wʊmən/ (airwomen ) N‑COUNT An airwoman is a woman who flies aircraft, especially one who serves in her country's air force.
air|worthy /eə r wɜː r ði/ ADJ If an aircraft is airworthy , it is safe to fly. □ The mechanics work hard to keep the helicopters airworthy. ● air|worthiness N‑UNCOUNT □ All our aircraft have certificates of airworthiness.
airy /eə ri/ (airier , airiest )
1 ADJ If a building or room is airy , it has a lot of fresh air inside, usually because it is large. □ The bathroom has a light and airy feel.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use airy to describe someone's behaviour when they are light-hearted and casual about things which some people take seriously. □ Giving them an airy wave of his hand, the Commander sailed past.
ai ry-fai ry ADJ If you describe someone's ideas as airy-fairy , you are critical of them because you think the ideas are vague, impractical, and unrealistic. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …their airy-fairy principles.
aisle /a I l/ (aisles )
1 N‑COUNT An aisle is a long narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats in a public building such as a church or between rows of shelves in a supermarket. □ …the frozen food aisle.
2 N‑SING The aisle is used in expressions such as walking down the aisle to refer to the activity of getting married. □ He was in no hurry to walk down the aisle.
ajar /ədʒɑː r / ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a door is ajar , it is slightly open. □ He left the door ajar in case I needed him.
aka /e I ke I e I / also a.k.a. aka is an abbreviation for 'also known as'. aka is used especially when referring to someone's nickname or stage name. □ …the writer Barbara Vine, aka Ruth Rendell.
akim|bo /ək I mboʊ/ PHRASE If you stand arms akimbo or with arms akimbo , you stand with your hands on your hips and your elbows pointing outwards. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
akin /ək I n/ ADJ If one thing is akin to another, it is similar to it in some way. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.
SUFFIX -al
forms adjectives that indicate what something is connected with. For example, environmental problems are problems connected with the environment.
à la /ɑː lɑː/ PHRASE If you do something à la a particular person, you do it in the same style or in the same way that they would do it. □ …embracing the discoveries of science à la Galileo.
ala|bas|ter /æ ləbɑːstə r , -bæs-/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Alabaster is a white stone that is used for making statues, vases, and ornaments.
à la carte /ɑː lɑː kɑː r t/ ADJ [ADJ n] An à la carte menu in a restaurant offers you a choice of individually priced dishes for each course. □ You could choose as much or as little as you wanted from an à la carte menu. ● ADV [ADV after v] à la carte is also an adverb. □ A set meal is £26, or you can eat à la carte.
alac|rity /əlæ kr I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with N ] If you do something with alacrity , you do it quickly and eagerly. [FORMAL ]
alarm ◆◇◇ /əlɑː r m/ (alarms , alarming , alarmed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with/in N ] Alarm is a feeling of fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen. □ The news was greeted with alarm by MPs. [Also + over/about ]
2 VERB If something alarms you, it makes you afraid or anxious that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen. □ [V n] We could not see what had alarmed him.
3 N‑COUNT An alarm is an automatic device that warns you of danger, for example by ringing a bell. □ He heard the alarm go off.
4 N‑COUNT An alarm is the same as an alarm clock .
5 → see also alarmed , alarming , burglar alarm , car alarm , false alarm , fire alarm , smoke alarm