airtime
UK[ˈeətaɪm]US[ˈertaɪm]
n
The amount of time that is paid for or available for broadcasting on radio or television.
n
The amount of time that a mobile phone user can spend talking on calls, typically as part of a prepaid plan.
Morpheme Breakdown
air
time
air
broadcast
time
duration
Etymology
The word 'airtime' is a modern compound formed from two native English elements. 'Air' derives from the Greek 'aēr', meaning the lower atmosphere, which in the early 20th century became a metaphor for radio broadcasting, as signals travel through the air. 'Time' originates from the Proto-Germanic 'tīmô', related to the concept of a tide or season, and evolved into its current sense of a measurable period. The compound 'airtime' logically combines these ideas, first denoting the specific duration a program occupies on the radio spectrum and later extending to the allocated talk time on cellular networks, maintaining the core concept of a purchased or allotted temporal segment for transmission.
Analysis
Structure: air (broadcast) + time (duration)
air: From Old French 'air', Latin 'aer', Greek 'aēr' (air, atmosphere). In this compound, it functions as a modifier meaning "broadcast via radio waves."
time: From Old English 'tīma' (a period, season). In this compound, it functions as the head noun meaning "a measured duration."
Examples
The controversial interview was given significant airtime on all major news channels.
I need to top up my phone credit; I've almost run out of airtime.
The station manager allocated more airtime to local music programs.