Runway

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹʌnweɪ/

Definitions

1. A long, flat surface used by aircraft to take off and land ; a raised platform where models display clothing during fashion shows
2. A prepared area on an airfield designated for planes to depart or arrive ; a narrow stage extending into an audience for showcasing apparel
3. A paved path for airplanes to gain speed for flight or slow down after landing ; an elevated walkway used by models to present garments to spectators

Etymology: A runway is, quite literally, a run and a way: "run" and "way" joined together to name the strip a plane sprints down before lifting off. The "way" half has a long pedigree, descending from an Old English "weg" that meant road or path, a word with deep Germanic roots. The "run" half comes from the everyday verb for moving swiftly on foot, so the compound describes a path made for running. The surprise is how literal the term is. Early compounds of this kind were straightforward descriptions of a track or passage, and the aviation sense simply adopts that old pattern for a new machine. The word needed no coinage from classical languages; it was assembled from two plain English elements that had been sitting side by side for centuries.

Synonyms: taxiway, airstrip