aim 1
Her lifelong aim was to learn how to fly.
Her lifelong ambition was to learn how to fly. See Note at AMBITION 1 2
He was aiming a gun against me.
He was aiming a gun at me. These programmes are aimed to a very wide audience.
These programmes are aimed at a very wide audience. aim sth at sb/sth: ‘Each ball seemed to be aimed at my head.’ ‘This new dictionary is aimed at intermediate learners of English.’ 3
I started to learn English with the aim to become a teacher.
I started to learn English with the aim of becoming a teacher. with the aim of doing sth : ‘I originally went out to the Far East with the aim of setting up my own import-export business.’ Compare: ‘My aim is to become a teacher.’ air 1
It’s hard to find a fresh air nowadays.
It’s hard to find any fresh air nowadays. Air (= the mixture of gases that we breathe) is an uncountable noun: ‘Let’s go for a walk and get some air in our lungs.’ 2
See PURE aircraft All the aircrafts have to be checked and refuelled.
All the aircraft have to be checked and refuelled. The plural form of aircraft is aircraft (no change). alarm Finally we got really worried and alarmed the local police.
Finally we got really worried and alerted the local police. alarm = make someone feel worried about a possible danger: ‘We don’t wish to alarm people unnecessarily, but it would be wise to avoid drinking the tap water here.’ alert = inform someone of possible danger so that they can be ready to deal with it: ‘When the pilot realized that one engine had failed, he alerted air traffic control.’
