Aerosol

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Aerosol, is a term derived from the fact that matter "floating" in air is a suspension (a mixture in which solid or liquid or combined solid-liquid particles are suspended in a fluid). To differentiate suspensions from true solutions, the term sol evolved—originally meant to cover dispersions of tiny (sub-microscopic) particles in a liquid. With studies of dispersions in air, the term aerosol evolved and now embraces both liquid droplets, solid particles, and combinations of these.

As a common term, aerosol would be interpreted by the general population as meaning an aerosol spray can or output from such a can. In scientific terms it refers to airborne solid particles also called dust or particulate matter (PM) as well as liquid droplets.