aerosol

/ˈɛrəsɑl/

/ˈɛrəsɒl/

Other forms: aerosols

An aerosol is a substance released in very fine mist, like oven cleaner or air freshener. An aerosol contains tiny particles of liquid or solid suspended within a gas.

Spray paint is an aerosol product, released at the press of a button in a hissing spray. The aerosol paint emerges in the form of a gas, and adheres to the surface as a solid color. Aerosol products can be dangerous, since they're very flammable and can cause health problems if people inhale them. The word was coined in 1919, from a combination of aero-, "air" in Greek, and sol, short for solution.

Definitions of aerosol

1. noun

   a cloud of solid or liquid particles in a gas
   types:

   fog

   droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

   haze

   atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility

   fume, smoke

   a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

   fogbank

   a large mass of fog on the sea (as seen from a distance)

   gun smoke

   smoke created by the firing of guns

   ice fog, pogonip

   a dense winter fog containing ice particles

   mist

   a thin fog with condensation near the ground

   pea soup, pea-souper

   a heavy thick yellow fog

   smother

   a stifling cloud of smoke

   type of:

   cloud

   any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
2. noun

   a dispenser that holds a substance under pressure and that can release it as a fine spray (usually by means of a propellant gas)
   synonyms: aerosol bomb, aerosol can, aerosol container, spray can

   types:

   pepper spray

   a nonlethal aerosol spray made with the pepper derivative oleoresin capiscum; used to cause temporary blindness and incapacitate an attacker; also used as a bear deterrent

   type of:

   dispenser

   a container so designed that the contents can be used in prescribed amounts