runway
UK[ˈrʌn.weɪ]US[ˈrʌn.weɪ]
n
A long, level piece of ground with a specially prepared hard surface on which aircraft take off and land.
n
A narrow platform extending into the audience in a theatre, nightclub, etc., used especially by models in a fashion show.
n
A defined path, channel, or track for something to move along.
Morpheme Breakdown
run
way
run
way
Etymology
The word 'runway' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements, 'run' and 'way', literally meaning "a path for running." Its earliest uses in the 19th century referred to paths for animals, such as deer runs, or for wheeled vehicles. The specific aviation sense emerged in the early 20th century, logically applying the concept of a prepared path to the ground course an aircraft "runs" along for takeoff and landing. The fashion show sense is a metaphorical extension from the 1940s, likening the narrow stage to an aircraft's defined path.
Analysis
Structure: run + way
- run (Old English 'rinnan', 'irnan'): A verb meaning to move swiftly on foot. In this compound, it denotes the action or purpose of the path.
- way (Old English 'weg'): A noun meaning a road, path, or course of travel. It denotes the physical path itself.
Examples
The plane accelerated down the runway and lifted smoothly into the air.
The model made a dramatic entrance at the end of the runway.
Engineers designed a concrete runway for the new water drainage system.