tarmac
TAHR-mak
/ˈtɑːrmæk/
The paved outdoor area at an airport where aircraft park, maneuver, taxied, or refuel.
Popularly used by news media and travelers to mean the airfield runway or apron, though aviation experts prefer terms like 'apron' or 'ramp'.
The story behind the word. Patented in 1901 by Edgar Purnell Hooley, combining 'tar' with 'macadam' (crushed stone paving invented by Scottish engineer John McAdam).
Word relationships
- runway: Runway is specifically where planes land and take off; tarmac includes parking and refueling areas.
Commonly confused with
- runway: The runway is strictly for high-speed takeoff and landing; the tarmac/apron is for parking and taxiing.
Collocations
- on the tarmac
- tarmac delay
- hot tarmac
- tarmac crew
Example sentences
- "The plane sat on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for clearance from air traffic control." Flight delay news
- "Ground crew personnel wearing high-visibility vests guided the taxiing jet across the tarmac." Aviation ops
Memory hook
Tar + Macadam = Tarmac pavement outside the airport. The paved ground where planes park.
When not to use
Do not use 'tarmac' to mean the passenger terminal building or passenger waiting gate inside.
Fun facts
- US Department of Transportation rules prohibit domestic flights from keeping passengers on the tarmac for more than 3 hours without deplaning.
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