tarmac — A hard surface made of tarmacadam, especially an airport runway or taxiway
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A hard surface made of tarmacadam, especially an airport runway or taxiway
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtɑːrmæk/
Example Sentences
- The celebrity stepped onto the red carpet... wait, wrong event! It was just the gray tarmac.
- Flight attendants warned passengers not to run on the tarmac in high heels.
- The pilot announced a tarmac delay due to air traffic congestion.
tarmac
NOUN[/ˈtɑːrmæk/]
A hard surface made of tarmacadam, especially an airport runway or taxiway
Airport runway tarmac surface
Dragging his pack across the tarmac, then trudging back
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Tarmac originated in early 20th-century Scotland as a portmanteau of 'tar' and 'macadam,' named after engineer John McAdam who developed the macadam road surfacing method. Originally used for road construction, the term became synonymous with airport runways during the aviation age.
Breakdown
tar (bituminous material) + macadam (road surfacing technique named after John McAdam's stone-binding method). The compound blends the material used with the engineering technique's name.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The celebrity stepped onto the red carpet... wait, wrong event! It was just the gray tarmac.”
“Flight attendants warned passengers not to run on the tarmac in high heels.”
“The pilot announced a tarmac delay due to air traffic congestion.”
“Ground crew vehicles moved efficiently across the busy tarmac.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.