tarmac

[ˈtɑːmæk]

tarmac Definition

a type of road surface made of tar and small stones, or the area of land where planes take off and land at an airport.

Using tarmac: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tarmac" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The plane taxied along the tarmac.

  • Example

    The tarmac was slippery after the rain.

  • Example

    The workers were laying down fresh tarmac on the road.

tarmac Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for tarmac

Phrases with tarmac

  • refers to a plane that is on the ground, usually waiting for passengers to board or disembark

    Example

    The passengers were stuck on the tarmac for two hours due to a mechanical issue.

  • the amount of time a plane spends on the ground before taking off or after landing

    Example

    The airline was fined for exceeding the maximum tarmac time allowed by regulations.

  • a situation where a plane is delayed on the ground for an extended period of time, typically more than three hours

    Example

    The passengers were compensated for the tarmac delay caused by the severe weather conditions.

Origins of tarmac

shortened from tarmacadam, from John McAdam, Scottish engineer who invented it

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Summary: tarmac in Brief

'Tarmac' [ˈtɑːmæk] refers to a type of road surface made of tar and small stones, or the area of land where planes take off and land at an airport. It is often used in phrases like 'on the tarmac,' referring to a plane on the ground, and 'tarmac time,' which is the amount of time a plane spends on the ground before taking off or after landing.