From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
aerial
adj 1: existing or living or growing or operating in the air;
"aerial roots of a philodendron"; "aerial particles";
"small aerial creatures such as butterflies"; "aerial
warfare"; "aerial photography"; "aerial cable cars"
2: characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as
impalpable or intangible as air; "figures light and aeriform
come unlooked for and melt away"- Thomas Carlyle; "aerial
fancies"; "an airy apparition"; "physical rather than
ethereal forms" [syn: aeriform, aerial, airy, aery,
ethereal]
n 1: a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer [syn:
forward pass, aerial]
2: an electrical device that sends or receives radio or
television signals [syn: antenna, aerial, {transmitting
aerial}]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
aerial \aerial\, Aerial \A*["e]"ri*al\, a. [L. a["e]rius. See
Air.]
1. Of or pertaining to the air, or atmosphere; inhabiting or
frequenting the air; produced by or found in the air;
performed in the air; as, a["e]rial regions or currents;
the a["e]rial maneuvers of a fighter plane. "A["e]rial
spirits." --Milton. "A["e]rial voyages." --Darwin.
[1913 Webster]
2. Consisting of air; resembling, or partaking of the nature
of air. Hence: Unsubstantial; unreal.
[1913 Webster]
3. Rising aloft in air; high; lofty; as, a["e]rial spires.
[1913 Webster]
4. Growing, forming, living, or existing in the air, as
opposed to growing or existing in earth or water, or
underground; as, a["e]rial rootlets, a["e]rial plants; the
aerial roots of a philodendron. --Gray.
[1913 Webster]
5. Light as air; ethereal.
[1913 Webster]
6. operating or operated overhead especially on elevated
cables. aerial conveyers for transporting raw materials
[WordNet 1.5]
7. operating or moving in the air. an aerial cable car;
aerial combat
[WordNet 1.5]
Aerial acid, carbonic acid. [Obs.] --Ure.
Aerial perspective. See Perspective.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
aerial \aerial\ n.
1. (Football) a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer.
Syn: forward pass
[WordNet 1.5]
2. a metallic wire, rod, or combination of rods connected to
an electronic device, designed to send or receive radio or
television signals.
Syn: antenna
[WordNet 1.5]