airborne
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.moving through the air, especially a plane that has just left the ground.
adj.describing an aircraft or projectile that is in flight or has successfully transitioned from the ground to the air.
Simple“The pilot confirmed that the plane was safely airborne and heading north.”
In context“Once the aircraft became airborne, the flight crew began their standard ascent procedures to reach the designated cruising altitude.”
UsageUsually follows the verb 'to be' or 'to become'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.carried or spread through the air, like dust, seeds, or germs.
adj.transported or suspended by air currents; frequently used in medical contexts to describe the transmission of pathogens.
Simple“The doctor explained that the virus is airborne, so you should wear a mask.”
In context“Public health officials expressed concern regarding the airborne transmission of the bacteria in poorly ventilated indoor environments.”
UsageOften used before a noun like 'virus', 'pathogen', or 'particles'.
SynonymsatmosphericwindborneAntonymswaterbornesoil borne - 03 C1 Advanced
n.soldiers who are trained to jump out of planes into a battle.
n.military infantry units specifically trained for deployment via parachute or aircraft landing.
Simple“He served in the airborne during the war and completed many jumps.”
In context“The airborne were dropped behind enemy lines under the cover of darkness to secure the bridge before the main force arrived.”
UsageOften used as a collective noun or as a modifier in 'airborne division'.
Synonyms
“But our data at the time couldn't clearly separate its effects from other airborne pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide.”
“They detected sharp, short-lived increases in both coarse and fine airborne particles throughout the event.”
Attested since the 1640s; air + -borne
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.