sky
sky
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "sky" is /skaɪ/.
Syllable 1:
/s/ - voiceless alveolar sibilant
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "I")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: sky
Plural Noun: skies
Verb (base form): sky (less common, often used informally, e.g., "to sky a ball")
Verb (third-person singular present): skies
Verb (present participle): skying
Verb (past tense/past participle): skied
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The expanse of air, clouds, and visible celestial objects above the surface of the Earth, appearing as a blue or gray dome during the day and a dark, star-filled dome at night.
Synonyms: heavens, firmament, atmosphere, ether, upper atmosphere
Antonyms: ground, earth, land, surface
Definition: (Often preceded by "the") A prevailing mood or atmosphere, especially one that suggests a vast or overwhelming feeling.
Synonyms: ambiance, mood, feeling, climate, spirit
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense, as it describes a characteristic rather than an opposite state.)
Verb
Definition: To hit, throw, or propel something high into the air.
Synonyms: loft, launch, hurl, toss, elevate
Antonyms: ground, drop, lower, fall
Definition: To position or hang something very high, often in a way that makes it difficult to see or appreciate fully.
Synonyms: elevate, suspend, hoist, raise
Antonyms: lower, drop, unhang, place low
Examples of Use
Books:
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." (William Gibson, Neuromancer, July 1984)
"He gazed up at the vast, star-studded sky, feeling a profound sense of awe." (Astrid Rosenbloom, The World Was My Garden)
Newspapers:
"Heavy rains are expected to continue across the region, with forecasters warning of a grey sky for most of the week." (The Standard)
"Concerns about rising property taxes continue to skyrocket, say local residents." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"From the vibrant sunsets to the swirling northern lights, capturing the perfect sky shot can be challenging but rewarding." (National Geographic online)
"Why is the evening sky turning a vibrant shade of pink over some cities?" (BBC Science Focus)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why you had to hide away for so long?" (Electric Light Orchestra, "Mr. Blue Sky", June 1978)
Film: In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne eventually escapes to freedom, remarking, "I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." The camera then shows him on a beach with a wide, open sky. (Warner Bros., September 1994)
Video Games: Many open-world games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild feature vast, explorable landscapes with dynamic weather and a prominent sky that changes throughout the day-night cycle. (Nintendo, March 2017)
General Public Discourse:
"Look at that beautiful clear sky today – perfect weather for a picnic!" (Casual conversation)
"The prices for concert tickets just seem to sky these days, making it hard for fans to attend." (Online forum discussion)
10 Quotes Using Sky
"The sky is the limit." (Common Idiom)
"A poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company! I gazed—and gazed—but little thought what wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie, in vacant or in pensive mood, they flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude; and then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils." (William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud", 1807)
"The sky is everywhere, it begins at your feet." (J.R. Rim, The World According To J.R. Rim, 2009)
"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854 - often paraphrased as "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads, and the sky is above all.")
"I'm a dreamer. I have to dream and reach for the stars, and if I miss a star then I grab a handful of clouds." (Mike Tyson - often associated with the phrase "reach for the sky.")
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, 1892 - implying looking at the sky)
"To the man who loves art for its own sake, it is not an amusement, but a serious occupation, and if he is an artist, he has to look up to the sky in humble thanks." (Arthur Schopenhauer, Parerga and Paralipomena, 1851)
"Man can no longer live for himself alone. We must realize that all life is interconnected, that we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. As long as poverty, injustice, and inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. We are challenged to work with tireless determination to create a world where every individual can experience the joy of living in dignity and freedom under the boundless sky." (Martin Luther King Jr., often paraphrased from various speeches and writings)
"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." (Theodore Roosevelt - implying looking at the sky)
"If the sky falls, we shall catch larks." (Proverb)
Etymology
The word "sky" has a fascinating journey through language!
It comes to us from Old Norse, which was the language spoken by the Vikings. The Old Norse word was "ský," and it meant "cloud."
So, originally, when someone in Old Norse said "ský," they were talking about a cloud, not the whole vast expanse above.
Over time, as English evolved and borrowed words from Old Norse (due to the Viking settlements in England), "ský" made its way into English. However, its meaning broadened. Instead of just meaning a single cloud, it began to refer to the entire "upper regions of the air" – basically, everything you see above the Earth, including the clouds, the sun, moon, and stars.
The first known use of "sky" in English with this broader meaning, referring to the heavens or atmosphere, dates back to around the 13th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sky
Sky is the limit: There's no limit to what can be achieved.
Out of a clear blue sky: Unexpectedly; without warning.
Sky-high: Extremely high (referring to prices, emotions, etc.).
To the sky: Very high up.
Under the open sky: Outdoors; in the open air.
Pie in the sky: An unrealistic hope or promise.
Sky-blue: A color resembling the clear blue sky.
Touch the sky: To achieve something great or feel immense joy.
The color of the sky: A descriptor for something blue or gray.
Old as the sky: Extremely old.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sky from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
