apron
AY-pruhn
Apron (noun) means a piece of clothing worn over the front of the body to protect clothes, especially while cooking. Example: “He tied on an apron before starting to bake.”
noun
1
A piece of clothing worn over the front of the body to protect clothes, especially while cooking.
"He tied on an apron before starting to bake."
"The waiter wore a black apron over his uniform."
2
A paved area near a building or runway, such as where planes park at an airport.
"The plane taxied across the apron toward the gate."
How to use apron
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA protective garment worn over clothes, or a paved area next to a building, especially at an airport.
Common pairings
tie an apron
kitchen apron
airport apron
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Word forms
- Plural
- aprons
- Third person singular
- aprons
- Past tense
- aproned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tied on an _____ before starting to bake.
Etymology
Originally "a napron," from Old French naperon, related to nappe, "tablecloth" — over time, "a napron" was misheard as "an apron," the same process that gave us the words adder and umpire.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “apron” mean?
The word “apron” means a piece of clothing worn over the front of the body to protect clothes, especially while cooking. In plain terms, a protective garment worn over clothes, or a paved area next to a building, especially at an airport.
How do you pronounce “apron”?
“Apron” is pronounced AY-pruhn (/ˈeɪ.pɹən/ in IPA).
How do you use “apron” in a sentence?
Here is “apron” used in a sentence: “He tied on an apron before starting to bake.”
What part of speech is “apron”?
“Apron” is a noun.
Where does the word “apron” come from?
The word “apron” comes from Old French. Originally "a napron," from Old French naperon, related to nappe, "tablecloth" — over time, "a napron" was misheard as "an apron," the same process that gave us the words adder and umpire.
Is “apron” a common word?
“Apron” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “apron” have?
“Apron” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of clothing worn over the front of the body to protect clothes, especially while cooking.
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