AIR ALERT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does air alert mean? 

• AIR ALERT (noun)
  The noun AIR ALERT has 3 senses:

1. the time period during which military and civilian agencies are prepared for an enemy air attack

2. the condition in which combat aircraft are airborne and ready for an operation

3. the warning signal that begins a period of preparation for an enemy air attack

  Familiarity information: AIR ALERT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AIR ALERT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The time period during which military and civilian agencies are prepared for an enemy air attack

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Hypernyms ("air alert" is a kind of...):

period; period of time; time period (an amount of time)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The condition in which combat aircraft are airborne and ready for an operation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

aircraft in the Mideast are on air alert

Hypernyms ("air alert" is a kind of...):

alert; qui vive (condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The warning signal that begins a period of preparation for an enemy air attack

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("air alert" is a kind of...):

alarm; alarum; alert; warning signal (an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger)