tarmac

Meaning

Noun

1. Tarmacadam.
2. Any bituminous road surfacing material.
3. The driveable surface of a road.
4. (informal) The area of an airport, other than the runway, where planes park or maneuver.

Verb

1. To pave with tarmacadam or a similar material.
2. To spend time idling on a runway, usually waiting for takeoff clearance.

Synonyms

tarmacadam

asphalt

macadamize

macadamise

asphalt concrete

macadam

blacktop

pave

tarviated macadam

runway

blacktopping

tarmacadam road

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɑː(ɹ)mæk/

Etymology

Clipping of tarmacadam, which is from tar + macadam (“crushed stones”). Originally a trademark owned by its inventor, Edgar Hooley.