different between airy vs rarefied

English

Etymology

air +? -y

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /????.i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /????.i/
• Rhymes: -???i

Adjective

airy (comparative airier, superlative airiest)

1. Consisting of air.

   an airy substance; the airy parts of bodies

2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aerial.

   an airy flight

3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy.

   an airy situation

4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike.
5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful.

   airy music

6. Not based on reality; having no solid foundation

   Synonyms: empty, trifling, visionary
7. light-hearted; vivacious

   Synonyms: sprightly, flippant, superficial

8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs; affectedly grand.
9. (painting) Having the light and aerial tints true to nature.
10. (of a room or building) Spacious, well lit, well ventilated.

Synonyms

• (consisting of air): aereous
• (resembling air): aereous; See also Thesaurus:insubstantial or Thesaurus:gaseous
• (relating to the spirit or soul): ethereal
• (not based on reality): empty, trifling, visionary
• (light-hearted; vivacious): flippant, sprightly, superficial; See also Thesaurus:active or Thesaurus:carefree
• (having an affected manner): See also Thesaurus:arrogant

Translations

Anagrams

• Iyar, Riya, Yair, yari

English

Alternative forms

• rarified

Adjective

rarefied (comparative more rarefied, superlative most rarefied)

1. Distant from the lives and everyday concerns of ordinary people; esoteric, exclusive, select.

   Philosophical debates can be quite rarefied.

2. Elevated in style or nature, sublime; of high intellectual or moral value.
3. (of a gas etc.) Less dense than usual; thin.

   The air at high altitudes at the top of mountains is rarefied.

Translations

Verb

rarefied

1. simple past tense and past participle of rarefy