# aerial

/ˈɛɹiəɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aerial
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. signal receiver

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a metal rod or wire used to receive radio or television signals.

For teachers: a metallic apparatus, such as a rod or wire, designed for the transmission or reception of radio frequency signals.

- We had to adjust the aerial on the roof to get a better picture on the TV.
- The storm damaged the television aerial, leaving the entire village without a reliable broadcast signal for several days.

Usage: In American English, 'antenna' is the standard term for this device.

### 2. photography

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a photograph taken from an aircraft or a high position in the sky.

For teachers: a photograph captured from an elevated position, typically from an aircraft, drone, or satellite.

- The map includes an aerial of the city to show the new park.
- The surveyors used a high-resolution aerial to identify the exact boundaries of the protected wetlands.

### 4. from the air

adjective · CEFR B2

happening in the air or done using an aircraft.

For teachers: relating to, occurring in, or performed by means of aircraft or flight.

- The city looks very different from an aerial view.
- The military conducted an aerial survey of the region to assess the damage caused by the flooding.

### 5. botany

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing parts of a plant that grow above the ground rather than in the soil.

For teachers: referring to plant organs, such as roots or stems, that grow entirely above the surface of the ground or water.

- Some tropical plants have aerial roots that take moisture from the air.
- The ivy uses its aerial rootlets to cling firmly to the brickwork of the old manor house.

### 6. delicate or gaseous

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

light and delicate, or made of air.

For teachers: consisting of or having the nature of air; ethereal or insubstantial in quality.

- The poet described the spirits as aerial beings with no physical form.
- The morning mist gave the castle an aerial appearance, as if it were floating unsupported above the valley floor.

## Examples

- The drone took an amazing aerial photo of the beach.
- The documentary features stunning aerial footage of the Amazon rainforest to show the scale of the deforestation.
- From an aerial perspective, the ancient geoglyphs reveal intricate geometric patterns that are entirely invisible to observers standing on the desert floor.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.