airborne

Everyday

1. Moving or carried through the air: «airborne seeds», «airborne germs». tree →
2. (of a plane, bird or person) Off the ground and flying: «The plane is airborne.» tree →
3. (military) Soldiers trained to arrive by parachute or aircraft: «airborne troops». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons «airborne» explains how seeds spread on the wind (dandelions, sycamore), and how some germs travel in tiny drops in the air, so covering coughs helps. In sport, a jumper or footballer can be «airborne» for a moment. Phrases: «become airborne», «airborne disease».

Examples

• The dandelion seeds were airborne in seconds. tree →
• The plane became airborne at the end of the runway. tree →
• Colds can be airborne, so catch your sneeze in a tissue. tree →
• The skateboarder was airborne over the ramp. tree →
• Pollen is airborne in spring. tree →
• The kite stayed airborne for an hour. tree →

Note

One word: air + borne (carried). Not «air-born» (born in the air). Adjective only. Related: waterborne (carried by water).