tarmac
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.”
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.
Word forms
tarmacked past tense, tarmaced past tense, tarmacced past tense, tarmacs plural, tarmacs singular
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
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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.