Words / B2

AIRB-orn/ˈeəbɔːn/

Airborne means carried through the air: airborne particles; airborne transmission. It also describes troops dropped from aircraft: airborne forces. Aerial is from the air as a viewpoint; in-flight is of a journey. Airborne particles featured in the air-quality table, then the µg/m³. Mix-up: airborne vs airport; born; do not write airborne for a spill that stays on the bench.

Meaning

Carried through the air; also of troops, dropped from aircraft.

Examples

• “Airborne particles featured in the air-quality table, then the µg/m³, not a perfume advert.”
• “Airborne troops featured in the history source, which is the parachute sense — still name the operation and the year.”

Good to know

airborne particles / virus / transmission; airborne forces. Close: aerial / in-flight. Trap: airport / a liquid spill on the bench. Science, geography, and history. Carried in the air, or dropped from aircraft — quote µg/m³ or name the operation.

Near in meaning

aerial, in-flight, wind-borne

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