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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

on air en · ADP

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

The broadcasting sense derives from the early use of radio, literally sending the transmission on the air waves.

Meanings

  1. Broadcasting or transmitting through the medium of radio or television.
    • Taken a bit in drink one evening, and live on air, Davey got into terrible trouble by varying his standard opening words with the memorable line" when roses are red, they're ready to pluck; when girls are sixteen, they're ready to... 2020, Mike Carlton, On Air, page 56:
    • The on-air studio will comprise of the equipment for recording, editing and storage – both in analog and digital formats. A hard disk based system, CDs and cassette players would form a part of the room. There will be an on-air indicator at the entrance of the room, which indicates the person entering the studio to be aware that the studio is on air, and indicates that there should not be any disturbance from the external source. 2018, M. Neelamalar, Radio Programme Production, page 174:
    • The microphone was on air, and the whole country heard the outburst.
    • You should move to a minimal degree while you are on air. 2013, Graham Andrews, You're On Air, page 92:
    • It can get very hectic in the studio, especially when a news story breaks while we are on air. 2003, Focus on Africa: BBC Magazine - Volumes 14-15, page 43:
    • The transmitter remained on air all through the war.
    • However, he had no contract with my Tongan friends and it was strictly against the rules to put performers on air without one. 2009, David Attenborough, Life on Air: Memoirs of a Broadcaster:
    • Julie is on air now, presenting the weather forecast.
    • Channel 9 will be on air in a few minutes, giving a live broadcast.
  2. Being, or so as to be, broadcast or transmitted by radio or television.
    • Czechoslovakia, for instance, had already participated actively in the founding meetings of the IBU, whereas the Polish delegate had joined in the Geneva frequency discussions before Poland even had its own broadcasting stations on air. 2012, Suzanne Lommers, Europe - On Air: Interwar Projects for Radio Broadcasting, page 93:
    • Thus, all ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates in the top 30 markets, representing 53.5% of all U.S. households, are on air with DTV. 2004, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Advancing the DTV Transition, page 25:
    • Was his interview on air?
    • Obviously, the Japanese officer was sleeping or drunk with sake, and the Allied broadcast in Japanese was broadcast on air. As the local technicians on duty did not understand Japanese, it went on air for some time. 2019, On Air: Untold Stories from Caldecott Hill:
    • Sack can be contacted directly when his show is on air (2-5 p.m. EST Sundays) at 1-800-TALK-YES, and welcomes brief phone questions about employment concerns at 1 -2 1 2-702-9000, extension 34. 1997, Solidarity - Volumes 40-42:
    • We can't put this material on air.
    • This show isn't on air at the moment — it's only on in the summer.
    • Don't interrupt while the program is on air.
    • The popular television series was on air for ten years before it finally ended.
  3. (figuratively) Smoothly; gracefully.
  4. (figuratively) Happily.
  5. (of a trick) Won with a high card though capturing only small cards.
  6. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, air.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
on-air alternative lexicographic

Antonyms

off air

Descendants

オンエア

Synonyms

on the air

Translations (27)

pl na antenie (broadcasting or transmitting) · be у эфі́ры (broadcasting or transmitting) · fi ohjelmistossa (being broadcast) · ur بَراہِ راسْت (broadcasting or transmitting) · es en el aire (broadcasting or transmitting) · ru в прямо́м эфи́ре (broadcasting or transmitting) · fi lähetyksessä (broadcasting or transmitting) · de auf Sendung (broadcasting or transmitting) · es en antena (broadcasting or transmitting) · pt no ar (broadcasting or transmitting) · gl no aire (broadcasting or transmitting) · nl rechtstreeks (broadcasting or transmitting) · ca en directe (broadcasting or transmitting) · fr à l’antenne (broadcasting or transmitting) · he באוויר (broadcasting or transmitting) · ar عَلَى الْمُبَاشِرِ (broadcasting or transmitting) · ja オンエアーの (broadcasting or transmitting) · uk в ефі́рі (broadcasting or transmitting) · cmn 直播 (broadcasting or transmitting) · cmn 在播 (being broadcast) · ru в эфи́ре (broadcasting or transmitting) · fi lähettää (broadcasting or transmitting) · it in onda (broadcasting or transmitting) · ru в эфире (being broadcast) · is þetta er (broadcasting or transmitting) · fi lähetys käynnissä (broadcasting or transmitting) · ja 放送中の (broadcasting or transmitting)