ae [] -adj

  1. one

Ae·a·cus ['ē-ə-kəs] -n

  1. a son of Zeus who is given the Myrmidons as followers and becomes on his death a judge of the underworld

AEC -abbr

  1. Atomic Energy Commission

ae·cio·spore ['ē-shə-,spȯr, 'ē-sə-] -n

  1. one of the spores arranged within an aecium in a series like a chain

ae·ci·um ['ē-shē-əm, 'ē-sē-] -n, adj

  1. the fruiting body of a rust fungus in which the first binucleate spores are usu. produced

ae·des [ā-'ē-(,)dēz] -n, adj

  1. any of a genus ( Aedes) of mosquitoes including the vector of yellow fever, dengue, and other diseases

ae·dile ['ē-,dī(-ə)l, 'ē-dᵊl] -n

  1. an official in ancient Rome in charge of public works and games, police, and the grain supply

AEF -abbr

  1. American Expeditionary Force

Ae·ge·an [i-'jē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to the arm of the Mediterranean Sea east of Greece
  2. of or relating to the chiefly Bronze Age civilization of the islands of the Aegean Sea and the countries adjacent to it

ae·gis ['ē-jəs also 'ā-] -n

  1. a shield or breastplate emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena
  2. protection
    • under the aegis of the Constitution
  3. controlling or conditioning influence
    • many American mothers, under the aegis of benevolent permissiveness...actually neglect their children -- Time
  4. auspices, sponsorship
    • under the aegis of the museum
  5. control or guidance esp. by an individual, group, or system

Ae·gis·thus [i-'jis-thəs] -n

  1. a lover of Clytemnestra slain with her by her son Orestes

Ae·ne·as [i-'nē-əs] -n

  1. a son of Anchises and Aphrodite, defender of Troy, and hero of Virgil's Aeneid

Ae·ne·o·lith·ic [ā-,ē-nē-ō-'li-thik] -adj

  1. of or relating to a transitional period between the Neolithic and Bronze ages in which some copper was used

ae·o·lian [ē-'ō-lē-ən, ē-'ōl-yən] -adj

  1. of or relating to Aeolus
  2. giving forth or marked by a moaning or sighing sound or musical tone produced by or as if by the wind

aeolian [ē-'ō-lē-ən, -'ōl-yən] -adj

(variant of eolian)

  1. borne, deposited, produced, or eroded by the wind

Ae·o·lian [ē-'ō-lē-ən, ā-, -'ōl-yən] -adj

  1. of or relating to Aeolis or its inhabitants

Aeolian -n

  1. a member of a group of Greek peoples of Thessaly and Boeotia that colonized Lesbos and the adjacent coast of Asia Minor
  2. aeolic

aeolian harp -n

  1. a box-shaped musical instrument having stretched strings usu. tuned in unison on which the wind produces varying harmonics over the same fundamental tone

Ae·ol·ic [ē-'ä-lik] -adj

  1. aeolian

Aeolic -n

  1. a group of ancient Greek dialects used by the Aeolians

Ae·o·lus ['ē-ə-ləs] -n

  1. the Greek god of the winds

ae·on ['ē-ən, 'ē-,än] -n

  1. an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time : age
  2. a very large division of geologic time usu. longer than an era
  3. a unit of geologic time equal to one billion years

ae·o·ni·an [ē-'ō-nē-ən] -adj

  1. lasting for an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time

ae·py·or·nis [,ē-pē-'ȯr-nəs] -n

  1. elephant bird

aeq -abbr

  1. equal

aer- -comb form

  1. air : atmosphere
    • aer ate
    • aero biology
  2. air and
    • aero space
  3. gas
    • aero sol
  4. aviation
    • aero drome

aer·ate ['er-,āt] -vt, n

  1. to supply or impregnate (as the soil or a liquid) with air
  2. to supply (the blood) with oxygen by respiration
  3. carbonate
  4. to make light or sparkling

aer·a·tor ['er-,ā-tər] -n

  1. one that aerates
  2. an apparatus for aerating something (as sewage)

aer·en·chy·ma [,er-'eŋ-kə-mə] -n

  1. modified parenchymatous tissue having large intracellular air spaces that is found esp. in aquatic plants where it facilitates gaseous exchange and maintains buoyancy

ae·ri·al ['er-ē-əl, ā-'ir-ē-əl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or occurring in the air or atmosphere
  2. existing or growing in the air rather than in the ground or in water
  3. high in the air
    • aerial spires
  4. operating or operated overhead on elevated cables or rails
    • an aerial tram
  5. : suggestive of air: as
  6. lacking substance
  7. fanciful, ethereal
    • visions of aerial joy -- P. B. Shelley
  8. of or relating to aircraft
    • aerial navigation
  9. designed for use in, taken from, or operating from or against aircraft
  10. effected by means of aircraft
    • aerial transportation
  11. of, relating to, or gained by the forward pass in football

aer·i·al ['er-ē-əl] -n

  1. antenna
  2. forward pass
  3. an acrobatic maneuver performed (as by skiers and gymnasts) in the air
  4. a ski event featuring aerials

ae·ri·al·ist ['er-ē-ə-list, ā-'ir-] -n

  1. one who performs feats in the air or above the ground esp. on the trapeze

aerial ladder -n

  1. a mechanically operated extensible ladder usu. mounted on a fire truck

aerial perspective -n

  1. the expression of space in painting by gradation of color and distinctness

ae·rie ['er-ē, 'ir-, 'ā-(ə-)rē] -n

  1. the nest of a bird on a cliff or a mountaintop
  2. a brood of birds of prey
  3. an elevated often secluded dwelling, structure, or position

aero ['er-(,)ō] -adj

  1. of or relating to aircraft or aeronautics
    • an aero engine
  2. aerodynamic

aer·o·bat·ics [,er-ə-'ba-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, n, adj

  1. spectacular flying feats and maneuvers (as rolls and dives)

aer·obe ['er-,ōb] -n

  1. an organism (as a bacterium) that lives only in the presence of oxygen

aer·o·bic [,er-'ō-bik] -adj, adv

  1. living, active, or occurring only in the presence of oxygen
    • aerobic respiration
  2. of, relating to, or induced by aerobes
  3. involving, utilizing, or increasing oxygen consumption for metabolic processes in the body
    • stationary bicycles used for aerobic conditioning
  4. relating to, resulting from, or used in aerobics

aer·o·bi·cize [,er-'ō-bə-,sīz] -vb

  1. to bring to good physical condition through aerobics
  2. to engage in aerobics

aer·o·bics [-biks] -n pl

  1. a system of physical conditioning involving exercises (as running, walking, swimming, or calisthenics) strenuously performed so as to cause marked temporary increase in respiration and heart rate
  2. aerobic exercises

aero·bi·ol·o·gy [,er-ō-bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the science dealing with the occurrence, transportation, and effects of airborne materials (as viruses, pollen, or pollutants)

aero·bi·o·sis [,er-ō-bī-'ō-səs, -bē-] -n

  1. life in the presence of air or oxygen

aero·brake ['er-ō-,brāk] -vt

  1. to decelerate (as a spacecraft) by passage through a planetary atmosphere

aero·drome ['er-ə-,drōm] -n

  1. airfield

aero·dy·nam·i·cist [,er-ō-dī-'na-mə-sist] -n

  1. one who specializes in aerodynamics

aero·dy·nam·ics [-'na-miks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv

  1. a branch of dynamics that deals with the motion of air and other gaseous fluids and with the forces acting on bodies in motion relative to such fluids

aero·dyne ['er-ə-,dīn] -n

  1. a heavier-than-air aircraft (as an airplane, helicopter, or glider)

aero·elas·tic·i·ty [,er-ō-,ē-,las-'ti-sə-tē, -i-,las-] -n, adj

  1. distortion (as from bending) in a structure (as an airplane wing or a building) caused by aerodynamic forces

aero·em·bo·lism [,er-ō-'em-bə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. decompression sickness caused by rapid ascent to high altitudes and resulting exposure to rapidly lowered air pressure

aero·foil ['er-ə-,fȯi(-ə)l] -n

  1. airfoil

aero·gram ['er-ə-,gram] -n

  1. air letter

aer·og·ra·pher's mate [,er-'ä-grə-fərz-] -n

  1. a navy petty officer specializing in meteorology

aer·o·lite ['er-ə-,līt] -n

  1. a stony meteorite

aero·mag·net·ic [,er-ō-mag-'ne-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or derived from a study of the earth's magnetic field esp. from the air
    • an aeromagnetic survey

aero·me·chan·ics [-mə-'ka-niks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. mechanics that deals with the equilibrium and motion of gases and of solid bodies immersed in them

aero·med·i·cal [-'me-di-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to aeromedicine
  2. relating to or involving air transportation to a hospital

aero·med·i·cine [-'me-də-sən] -n

  1. a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and disturbances arising from flying and the associated physiological and psychological problems

aer·om·e·ter [,er-'ä-mə-tər] -n

  1. an instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air or other gases

aero·naut ['er-ə-,nȯt, -,nät] -n

  1. one who operates or travels in an airship or balloon

aero·nau·tics [,er-ə-'nȯ-tiks, -'nä-] -n pl but sing in constr, adj, adv

  1. a science dealing with the operation of aircraft
  2. the art or science of flight

aer·on·o·my [,er-'ä-nə-mē] -n, adj

  1. a science that deals with the physics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere of planets

aero·pho·bia [,er-ō-'fō-bē-ə] -n, adj or n

  1. fear or strong dislike of flying

aero·plane ['er-ə-,plān] -n

  1. airplane

aero·sol ['er-ə-,säl, -,sȯl] -n

  1. a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas
    • smoke, fog, and mist are aerosol s
  2. the fine particles of an aerosol
    • stratospheric aerosol s
  3. a substance (as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol
  4. the container for this

aero·sol·ize [-,sä-,līz, -,sȯ-, -sə-] -vt, n

  1. to disperse as an aerosol

aero·space ['er-ō-,spās] -n

  1. space comprising the earth's atmosphere and the space beyond
  2. a physical science that deals with aerospace
  3. the aerospace industry

aerospace -adj

  1. of or relating to aerospace, to vehicles used in aerospace or the manufacture of such vehicles, or to travel in aerospace
    • aerospace research
    • aerospace profits
    • aerospace medicine

aerospace plane -n

  1. an airplane designed to be able to reach low earth orbit

aero·stat [-,stat] -n

  1. a lighter-than-air aircraft (as a balloon or blimp)

aero·stat·ics [,er-ō-'sta-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a branch of statics that deals with the equilibrium of gaseous fluids and of solid bodies immersed in them

aero·ther·mo·dy·nam·ics [-,thər-mə-(,)dī-'na-miks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj

  1. the thermodynamics of gases and esp. of air

aery ['er-ē, 'ā-ə-rē] -adj, adv

  1. having an aerial quality : ethereal
    • aery visions

aery ['er-ē, 'ir-, 'ā-(ə-)rē] -n

(variant of aerie)

  1. the nest of a bird on a cliff or a mountaintop
  2. a brood of birds of prey
  3. an elevated often secluded dwelling, structure, or position

Aes·cu·la·pi·an [,es-k(y)ə-'lā-pē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to Aesculapius or the healing art

Ae·sir ['ā-,zir, -,sir] -n pl

  1. the principal race of Norse gods

Ae·so·pi·an [ē-'sō-pē-ən, -'sä-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Aesop or his fables
  2. conveying an innocent meaning to an outsider but a hidden meaning to a member of a conspiracy or underground movement
    • Aesopian language

aes·thete ['es-,thēt, Brit usu 'ēs-] -n

  1. one having or affecting sensitivity to the beautiful esp. in art

aes·thet·ic [es-'the-tik, is-, Brit usu ēs-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or dealing with aesthetics or the beautiful
    • aesthetic theories
  2. artistic
    • a work of aesthetic value
  3. pleasing in appearance : attractive
    • easy-to-use keyboards, clear graphics, and other ergonomic and aesthetic features -- Mark Mehler
  4. appreciative of, responsive to, or zealous about the beautiful
  5. responsive to or appreciative of what is pleasurable to the senses

aesthetic -n

  1. a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty
  2. a particular theory or conception of beauty or art : a particular taste for or approach to what is pleasing to the senses and esp. sight
    • modernist aesthetic s
    • staging new ballets which reflected the aesthetic of the new nation -- Mary Clarke Clement Crisp
  3. a pleasing appearance or effect : beauty
    • appreciated the aesthetic s of the gemstones

aesthetic distance -n

  1. the frame of reference that an artist creates by the use of technical devices in and around the work of art to differentiate it psychologically from reality

aes·the·ti·cian [,es-thə-'ti-shən] -n

  1. a specialist in aesthetics
  2. cosmetologist

aes·thet·i·cism [es-'the-tə-,si-zəm, is-] -n

  1. a doctrine that the principles of beauty are basic to other and esp. moral principles
  2. devotion to or emphasis on beauty or the cultivation of the arts

aes·thet·i·cize [-,sīz] -vt

  1. to make aesthetic

aestival ['es-tə-vəl] -adj

(variant of estival)

  1. of or relating to the summer

aestivate [-,vāt] -vi

(variant of estivate)

  1. to spend the summer usu. at one place
  2. to pass the summer in a state of torpor

aet -abbr

  1. of age; aged

aether ['ē-thər] -n, adj

(variant of ether)

  1. the rarefied element formerly believed to fill the upper regions of space
  2. the upper regions of space : heavens
  3. a medium that in the wave theory of light permeates all space and transmits transverse waves
  4. airwaves
  5. a light volatile flammable liquid C 4H 10O used chiefly as a solvent and esp. formerly as an anesthetic
  6. any of a class of organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom attached to two carbon atoms

aetiology [,ē-tē-'ä-lə-jē] -n

(variant of etiology)

  1. cause, origin
  2. the cause of a disease or abnormal condition
  3. a branch of knowledge concerned with causes
  4. a branch of medical science concerned with the causes and origins of diseases