aid 24
aid² n fm1 1 [U] support or help: We went to the aid of the injured man. | a concert in aid of (=to make money for) the church repairs fund → see also FIRST AID, LEGAL AID 2 [C] something that provides help and makes a process easier or more effective: A dictionary is an invaluable aid in learning a new language. → see also HEARING AID, VISUAL AID 3 [U] help that is given by one country to another in the form of food, machines, or special skills: aid to the developing countries | the government's aid budget/emergency aid → see also FOREIGN AID 4 [C] AmE aide 5 what is something in aid of? BrE infml what is something for?: 'What's this little handle in aid of?' 'It's for starting the machine.'
AID /ˌeɪ aɪ 'di:/ abbrev. for AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
aide also aid AmE /eɪd/ n a person who helps, especially a person employed to help a government minister: a presidential aide
aide-de-camp /ˌeɪd də 'kɑːmp/ n pl. aides-de-camp (same pronunciation) Fr a military or naval officer who helps an officer of higher rank in his duties
'aided ,school n (in Britain) a VOLUNTARY SCHOOL whose managers have control over religious education and the choice of teachers and are responsible for part of the cost of building work needed for the school → see also CONTROLLED SCHOOL, VOLUNTARY SCHOOL
AIDS, Aids /eɪdz/ n [U] abbrev. for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; a very serious disease caused by a type of VIRUS called HIV which makes your body unable to defend itself against diseases and infections. AIDS is passed from one person to another usually during sexual activity. No cure for AIDS has yet been found, but some medical treatments have made it possible for people with AIDS to live for much longer than before: He died from an AIDS-related illness.
CULTURAL NOTE People who are HIV positive have been infected with the VIRUS that causes AIDS, but they do not have full-blown AIDS (=they have not developed the disease), and sometimes people are HIV positive for many years without being seriously ill. Because there is still no cure for AIDS, health organizations try to prevent the disease from spreading by advising people about SAFE SEX (=ways of having sex that reduce the risk of getting HIV, especially by using a CONDOM). There are also special organizations that give support and help to people who already have HIV or AIDS. Drugs have helped HIV PATIENTS in western countries to live longer, but they are not widely available in some poorer countries, for example in Africa. → see also AZT, TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST
ai-ki-do /aɪ'kiːdəʊ/ n [U] a Japanese fighting art based on using the opponent's strength against them in order to defend oneself
ail /eɪl/ v 1 [I] to be ill and grow weak: My grandmother is ailing. | (fig.) the country's ailing economy 2 [T] old use to cause pain to; trouble (especially in the phrase what ails you?)
ai-le-ron /'eɪlərɒn||-rɑːn/ n the movable back edge of the wing of an aircraft, used to keep the aircraft level or help it turn → compare ELEVATOR; see picture at AIRCRAFT
ail-ment /'eɪlmənt/ n an illness that is not serious: He's always complaining of some ailment or other. | a minor ailment
aim¹ /eɪm/ v 1 [I;T(at)] to point or direct (a weapon, shot etc) towards some object, with the intention of hitting it: I aimed at the door but hit the window. | He aimed the gun carefully. | He aimed it at the bottles. | (fig.) She hit back with well-aimed criticism. | (fig.) The programme is aimed at (=intended for) young teenagers. 2 [I(at, for)] to direct one's efforts (towards doing or obtaining something); intend (to): The factory must aim at increased production/aim for an increase in production. | [+to-v] He aims to be a writer.
aim² n 1 [U] the act of directing a weapon, shot etc: The hunter took aim at the lion. | His aim was very good. 2 [C(of)] the desired result of one's efforts; intention or purpose; OBJECTIVE: What is your aim in life? | The project was set up with the aim of helping young unemployed people. | The aim of the meeting was to reach agreement about next year's prices. | long-term/short-term aims | literary aims
aim-less /'eɪmləs/ adj often derog without any clear purpose or direction: his aimless life | aimless discussions —ly adv —ness n [U]
ain't /eɪnt/ nonstandard short for 1 am not, is not, are not, has not, have not: We ain't coming. | They ain't got it. 2 if it ain't broke, don't fix it also if it ain't broke, why fix it? infml said in order to disagree with someone who wants to change the way something works or is done, because you believe it works well the way it is: These guys on the board are always trying to dream up new schemes for revitalizing business. | keep saying if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Ain-tree /'eɪntri:/ a RACECOURSE in northwest England where a famous horse race, the GRAND NATIONAL, takes place each year
air¹ /eər/ n 1 [the+S;U] the mixture of gases which surrounds the Earth and which we breathe: breathing in the fresh morning air | There was a smell of burning leaves in the air. 2 [the+S;U] the sky or the space above the ground: He jumped into the air. | air travel/tickets/travellers | It's quicker by air than by sea. | an air crash/disaster 3 [C(of)] the general character or appearance of, or feeling caused by, a person or a place: There was an air of excitement at the meeting. | He explained the procedure with the weary air of a man who has explained it many times before. 4 [C] that part of a piece of music that is easily recognized and remembered; tune 5 in the air infml a) (of stories, talk etc) being passed on from one person to another b) not fully planned or settled; uncertain: We may be going skiing at Christmas, but it's still all up in the air. 6 on/off the air broadcasting/not broadcasting: We shall be on the air in five minutes. → see also AIRS, HOT AIR, THIN AIR, clear the air (CLEAR³), walk on air (WALK¹)
air² v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) become dry in a place that is warm or has plenty of dry air: Leave the clothes out on the washing line to air. 2 [I;T] to (cause to) become fresh by letting in air; VENTILATE: We aired the room by opening the windows. 3 [T] to make known to others (one's opinions, ideas, complaints etc), often in an unwelcome way: He's always airing his views about politics. | an opportunity to air one's grievances 4 [T] especially AmE to broadcast on the radio or television: a television interview to be aired this evening → see also AIRING
Air used in the name of an AIRLINE, usually combined with the name of a country: Air Canada (=the main airline of Canada) | Air France
'air ,ambulance n a special aircraft used for taking people to hospital
Air A'merica a TALK RADIO station (=one that has programmes in which people discuss particular issues) in the US, known for having LIBERAL political beliefs
air-bag /'eəbæg||'eər-/ n a large bag in a car which quickly unfolds and fills with air to protect the driver or passenger from hitting the DASHBOARD (=instrument board) in an accident.
air-base /'eəbeɪs||'eər-/ n a place where military aircraft land and take off
air-bed /'eəbed||'eər-/ n a long rubber or plastic bag filled with air and used as a bed or for lying on in water
air-borne /'eəbɔːn||'eərbɔːrn/ adj 1 [F] (especially of aircraft) in the air; in flight: We will be airborne in five minutes. 2 (especially of seeds) carried about by the air 3 (of soldiers) trained to fight in an area after being moved by aircraft or dropped from aircraft by means of PARACHUTES: airborne troops
air-brake /'eəbreɪk||'eər-/ n a BRAKE for stopping a large vehicle, such as a bus or train, that is worked by air under pressure
air-brick /'eəbrɪk||'eər-/ n a special brick with holes through it, used to let air pass through a wall
air-brush¹ /'eəbrʌʃ||'eər-/ n a piece of equipment that uses air to put paint onto a surface
airbrush² v [T] to use an airbrush to make a picture or photograph look better
airbrush sbdy./sthg. ⇔ out phr v to remove someone or something from a picture or photograph using an airbrush:
Air-bus /'eəbʌs||'eər-/ trademark a European company that makes planes. It is known for a type of plane called a