aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈer-ə-ˌsäl  -ˌsȯl 

1

: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas

Smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols.

airborne aerosol transmission of infective viral particles

also, aerosols plural : the fine particles of an aerosol

stratospheric aerosols

2

: a substance (such as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol

also : the container for this

Examples of aerosol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While this means cleaner air, fewer atmospheric aerosols also results in a greater amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface creating a heating effect. —Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2025

Other properties of the HA protein would need to change for the virus to be able spread by aerosols — tiny, infected airborne particles. —Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Legal battles Monday's oral arguments add to years of legal battles between an industry worth billions of dollars and the FDA, which regulates electronic nicotine delivery systems that involve heating nicotine liquid solutions to make an inhalable aerosol. —David Ovalle and Rachel Roubein The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 2 Dec. 2024

Wang led one of FLIP’s most recent research projects, studying how the air and sea exchange gases and aerosols. —Bysean Cummings, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

aero- + -sol (in hydrosol)

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl  ˈer- 

-ˌsȯl

: a mixture of fine solid or liquid particles and gas

smoke and fog are aerosols

Medical Definition

aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl  ˈer- 

-ˌsȯl

1

: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas

smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols

2

: a substance (as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol

also : the container for this