Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
calm air

calm air

2.7
A time with very little or no wind that makes the air still
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : aire tranquilo
  • The calm air made sailing easy.

Examples

  • Hot balloons operate best in calm air, ensuring a smooth and safe flight.

  • Fishermen took advantage of the calm air at dawn to launch their boats.

  • The weather report predicted calm air throughout the evening, ideal for outdoor dining.

  • We enjoyed the calm air during our picnic.

  • The pilot requested to wait for a period of calm air before proceeding with the landing.

  • Sailing conditions improved as we entered a region of calm air where the wind was nearly still.

  • The calm air allowed the balloons to float gently towards the bright blue sky.

Synonyms

calm
vscalm air
52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

applies specifically to very low wind speed in weather rather than general quiet
calmness
vscalm air
1 1.0

Weather with little wind or waves

specifies a precise low wind speed below one knot rather than general weather quiet
windlessness
vscalm air
6.5

A time with no wind

allows a tiny movement under one knot instead of total stillness

Antonyms

gale
24 5.8

A very strong wind that can blow down trees

How Windy

storm
∞ 1.0
gale
24 5.8
strong breeze
  • Specialized
1 2.2
breeze
201 1.0
calm air
  • Specialized
2.7

Surface Forms

calm air singular
calm airs plural

Morphology

calm + air

The meaning 'very still/no wind' is directly and transparently derived from 'calm' (still, not moving) combined with 'air' (wind/breeze), so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE. This composition is cross-linguistically common and follows ordinary adjective + noun semantics, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The noun calm air comes from watching the sea and sky when the wind is calm and the air feels still. That's why it now means 'very little or no wind'.