runway

[ruhn-wey]

noun

1. a way along which something runs.

2. a paved or cleared strip on which planes land and take off.

3. a similar strip on which cars, trucks, or the like may park, load, or enter the stream of traffic.

4. the beaten track or habitual path of deer or other wild animals.

5. a fairly large enclosure in which domestic animals may range about.

   a runway for dogs.

6. the bed of a stream.

7. Bowling.,  approach.

8. a narrow platform or ramp extending from a stage into the orchestra pit or into an aisle, as in a theater.

runway

/ ˈrʌnˌweɪ /

noun

1. a hard level roadway or other surface from which aircraft take off and on which they land

2. an enclosure for domestic animals; run

3. forestry a chute for sliding logs down

4. a narrow ramp extending from the stage into the audience in a theatre, nightclub, etc, esp as used by models in a fashion show

Word History and Origins

Origin of runway¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; run + way ¹

Example Sentences

The secluded hangars and runways add a degree of secrecy for the sensitive development work there.

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The exchange, announced roughly two weeks ago, would reduce Beyond Meat’s debt load by roughly $800 million and give it a longer runway to strengthen its balance sheet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Over the summer, Kurata spent a lot of time inside the Costco-size Western Costume Co., pulling looks for Vogue World, the magazine’s annual traveling runway extravaganza.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On the runway, what was once an oversized pair of denim trousers has been transformed into a tiered, layered jacket paired with flared trousers and platform shoes.

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The airport, which operates the single busiest runway in the U.S., was the site of a January midair collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• airstrip 
• path 
• platform 
• ramp 
• road 
• tarmac