apron

[ ey-pruhn ]

/ ˈeɪ prən /

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noun

a garment covering part of the front of the body and tied at the waist, for protecting the wearer's clothing: a kitchen apron.

Anglican Church. a similar garment extending to the knees, worn by bishops, deans, and archdeans.

a metal plate or cover, usually vertical, for a machine, mechanism, artillery piece, etc., for protecting those who operate it.

a continuous conveyor belt for bulk materials, consisting of a chain of steel plates.

(in a lathe) a part of the carriage holding the clutches and gears moving the toolholder.

a paved or hard-packed area abutting an airfield's buildings and hangars, where planes are parked, loaded, or the like.

a broad paved area used for parking cars, as at the end of a driveway.

Civil Engineering.

any device for protecting a surface of earth, as a riverbank, from the action of moving water.
a platform to receive the water falling over a dam.

the part of a stage floor in front of the curtain line.

Furniture. skirt (def. 6).

the outer border of a green of a golf course.

the part of the floor of a boxing ring that extends outside the ropes.

Also called skirt. a flat, broad piece of interior window trim immediately beneath the sill.

a strip of metal set into masonry and bent down to cover the upper edge of flashing; counterflashing.

the open part of a pier for loading and unloading vessels.

Nautical. (in a wooden vessel) a piece reinforcing the stem on the after side and leading down to the deadwood.

Geology. a deposit of gravel and sand at the base of a mountain or extending from the edges of a glacier.

the frill of long hairs on the throat and chest of certain long-haired dogs, as the collie.

a structure erected around another structure, as for reinforcement or decoration: a high fence surrounded by a wire apron buried in the ground.

verb (used with object)

to put an apron on; furnish with an apron.

to surround in the manner of an apron: The inner city is aproned by low-cost housing.

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Origin of apron

1275–1325; 1925–30 for def. 6; 1900–05 for def. 8; Middle English napron (by later misconstruing a napron as an apron) <Middle French naperon, equivalent to nape tablecloth (<Latin mappa napkin; cf. map) + -ron diminutive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM apron

a·pron·like, adjectiveun·a·proned, adjective

Words nearby apron

April Fools' Day, April showers bring May flowers, a priori, apriorism, aproctia, apron, apron piece, apron stage, apron strings, A prophet is not without honor save in his own country, apropos

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use apron in a sentence

The price of admission will cover all the materials needed to leave with some new threads, but guests are welcome to bring some small items of their own to tie-dye — an apron and some rubber gloves couldn’t hurt either.
The best things to do in the D.C. area the week of Aug. 26-Sept. 1|Anying Guo, Hau Chu, Fritz Hahn, Kelsey Ables|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
These grilling aprons keep you clean and the handy pockets give you quick access to spatulas and forks.
Best grill accessories you need to become a grill master|Florie Korani|July 23, 2021|Popular-Science
If you’ve ever had X-rays done at the dentist and felt an extra sense of relaxation when the hygienist put the leaded apron on your body, you may want to consider a weighted blanket.
Best throw blanket: Cotton, cashmere, and more cozy, soft options for all seasons|Florie Korani|July 8, 2021|Popular-Science
This grill pan is perfect for anyone whose father likes to don the tongs and apron and man the BBQ.
Scouted Gift Pick: Weber Grill Pan|Jillian Lucas|June 11, 2021|The Daily Beast

I cut the sleeves short on an old shirt, and it works much better than an apron.
Hints From Heloise: Don’t be a no-show for coronavirus vaccine appointments|Heloise Heloise|May 7, 2021|Washington Post
An office manager, he says, was wearing an apron with Santa on it.
A Field General in the War on Christmas|David Freedlander|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While caring for patients, clinical staff is heavily robed with gown and apron; three pairs of gloves; a hood; and goggles.
Two Americans Have Now Been Diagnosed With Ebola in Record Outbreak|Kent Sepkowitz|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Nonsense,” he cried, but I noticed his hand trembling under his leathern apron.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hawberk looked at me and slowly smoothed his leathern apron.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A housekeeper came out to buy some, wiping her hands on her apron.
Mexico City’s Magical Moment of Resurgence|Condé Nast Traveler|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sarah was standing on the porch again wiping her hands on her apron, looking away toward the fields.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
Shrieking inarticulate anathema, he rushed downstairs, the man in the green baize apron following at his heels.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
That evening old Liz filled her teapot, threw her apron over it, and descended to the court to visit Mrs Rampy.
The Garret and the Garden|R.M. Ballantyne
Mrs Rampy broke down at this point and threw her apron over her head to conceal her feelings.
The Garret and the Garden|R.M. Ballantyne
Mrs. Gum dusted a large old-fashioned oak chair with her apron; but he perched himself on one of its elbows.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for apron

apron

/ (ˈeɪprən) /

noun

a protective or sometimes decorative or ceremonial garment worn over the front of the body and tied around the waist

the part of a stage extending in front of the curtain line; forestage

a hard-surfaced area in front of or around an aircraft hangar, terminal building, etc, upon which aircraft can stand

a continuous conveyor belt composed usually of slats linked together

a protective plate screening the operator of a machine, artillery piece, etc

a ground covering of concrete or other material used to protect the underlying earth from water erosion

a panel or board between a window and a skirting in a room

geology a sheet of sand, gravel, etc, deposited at the front of a moraine

golf the part of the fairway leading onto the green

machinery the housing for the lead screw gears of a lathe

another name for skirt (def. 3)

tied to someone's apron strings dependent on or dominated by someone, esp a mother or wife

verb

(tr) to protect or provide with an apron

Word Origin for apron

C16: mistaken division (as if an apron) of earlier a napron, from Old French naperon a little cloth, from nape cloth, from Latin mappa napkin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for apron

apron

[ ā′prən ]

An area covered by a blanketlike deposit of glacial, eolian, marine, or alluvial sediments, especially an area at the foot of a mountain or in front of a glacier.

apron

Origin of apron

OTHER WORDS FROM apron

Words nearby apron

Words related to apron

How to use apron in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for apron

Word Origin for apron

Scientific definitions for apron