lighter than air
Helium balloon's quality
Lighter than air describes gases or objects less dense than the surrounding atmosphere, allowing them to rise and float: a lighter-than-air balloon, helium is lighter than air.
The phrase applies to aircraft like blimps and hot air balloons that achieve lift through buoyancy rather than aerodynamic forces.
Figuratively, it suggests extreme lightness or euphoria: She felt lighter than air after hearing the news.
- hot air balloonGas-heated fabric vessel
- heliumLightest noble gas
- dirigibleSteerable lighter-than-air craft
- buoyancyFluid's upward resistance
- zeppelinRigid lighter-than-air craft
aerostat · density · air density · gas laws · hydrogen · methane · blimp · neon · airship · featherlight · displacement · water vapor · ammonia · noble gases · gossamer · party balloon · weather balloon · lift
lighter than airsinking
Falling through water
dense · heavy · leaden · weighty · weighted down
lighter than airheavy-hearted
Emotionally weighed down
weighed down · burdened · leaden · oppressed · crushed
light, lighter, lightest, lightly, lightness, lighten, lightened, lightening, alight