Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
A period of stony, unresponsive silence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, figuratively
Topics: broadcasting, media
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: dead air
Antonyms: none provided
History
From the motif in western movies where the wind blows tumbleweeds through the scene, usually to establish that the place is desolate or empty.
