noun
tarmac
TAH-mak
Tarmac (noun) means a tar-based surfacing material used on roads, or the road surface itself. Example: “Fresh tarmac had just been laid on the high street.”
noun
1
A tar-based surfacing material used on roads, or the road surface itself.
"Fresh tarmac had just been laid on the high street."
2
The paved area of an airport where aircraft park or move around, apart from the runway.
"Passengers waited on the tarmac while the plane refuelled."
"Ground crew moved quickly across the tarmac to load the luggage."
verb
1
(of an aircraft) To sit on the ground, often on the taxiway, waiting for permission to take off.
"Their flight tarmacked for over an hour before departure."
How to use tarmac
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe paved surface of roads or airports, or, as a verb, to sit waiting on that surface before takeoff.
Common pairings
on the tarmac
tarmac road
tarmac delay
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Word forms
- Plural
- tarmacs
- Third person singular
- tarmacs
- Past tense
- tarmacked, tarmaced, tarmacced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Fresh _____ had just been laid on the high street.
Etymology
Shortened from "tarmacadam" (tar + macadam, a road surface made of crushed stone); originally a trademark named after its inventor, Edgar Hooley.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “tarmac” mean?
The word “tarmac” means a tar-based surfacing material used on roads, or the road surface itself. In plain terms, the paved surface of roads or airports, or, as a verb, to sit waiting on that surface before takeoff.
How do you pronounce “tarmac”?
“Tarmac” is pronounced TAH-mak (/ˈtɑː(ɹ)mæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “tarmac” in a sentence?
Here is “tarmac” used in a sentence: “Fresh tarmac had just been laid on the high street.”
What part of speech is “tarmac”?
Depending on how it is used, “tarmac” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “tarmac” have?
“Tarmac” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tar-based surfacing material used on roads, or the road surface itself.
