noun
apron
An airport area where aircraft park for loading, unloading, or servicing.
The aircraft waits on the apron while baggage is loaded.
Etymology
The older word names a small cloth. English extended apron from a covering worn at the front to a flat area extending before something, including an airport’s aircraft servicing area.
More examples
- Ground crews crossed the apron carefully.
- The airport expanded two aprons.
- A fuel truck approached the plane on the apron.
Forms
apron · aprons
Similar words
- ramp
- Ramp is common American aviation usage for the parking area.
- taxiway
- A taxiway is for movement between airport areas rather than parking.