airport
airport
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ˈɛr.pɔrt/
air /ɛr/:
/ɛ/ - as in "bed"
/r/ - as in "red"
port /pɔrt/:
/p/ - as in "pat"
/ɔ/ - as in "bought"
/r/ - as in "red"
/t/ - as in "top"
Word Form Variations
Singular: airport
Plural: airports
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
An airfield equipped with facilities for the handling, takeoff, and landing of aircraft, typically including runways, control towers, hangars, and passenger terminals, serving as a hub for air travel and cargo operations.
Synonyms: aerodrome, airbase, airfield, airstrip
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms for this specific facility, as it's a place)
A complex of buildings and infrastructure associated with an airfield, designed to manage the flow of passengers and freight, facilitate aircraft maintenance, and provide various services for air travel.
Synonyms: terminal, aviation hub, flight center
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He arrived at the airport early, the usual pre-flight jitters already setting in, a mix of excitement and the familiar dread of long security lines." (Fictional example, but representative of common literary usage)
"The novel opens with the protagonist stranded at a bustling international airport, symbolizing the feeling of being in transit, both physically and emotionally." (Example of critical analysis of a novel)
Newspapers:
"The city's main airport reported a record number of passengers last month, signaling a strong recovery in post-pandemic air travel." ( The New York Times)
"Security measures have been heightened at all major airports nationwide following the recent advisory." (The Washington Post)
Online Publications:
"Travel experts predict significant delays at several European airports this summer due to air traffic control strikes." (Skift.com)
"Which airport has the best duty-free shopping? A comprehensive guide for international travelers." (LonelyPlanet.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The dramatic climax of the spy thriller takes place in a chaotic airport terminal, with agents pursuing each other through throngs of bewildered travelers." (Mission: Impossible - Fallout, 2018)
Television Series: "In the latest episode, the detectives track the suspect to the airport, hoping to apprehend him before he boards his flight." (Law & Order: SVU)
Music: "The song's lyrics describe a tearful goodbye at the airport, a common trope in ballads about separation and longing." (Example of song lyrics; many songs feature this theme)
Video Games: "Players must navigate a complex virtual airport environment in this simulation game, managing everything from baggage handling to air traffic control." (Airport Tycoon, 2023)
General Public Discourse:
"I hate going to the airport early, but you never know how long security will take these days." (Casual conversation between friends)
"My flight from the airport was delayed for three hours, which completely messed up my schedule." (Complaint on social media platform, e.g., X/Twitter)
"We're meeting at the airport at 6 AM, so try to get some sleep tonight." (Instruction given in a travel plan)
10 Famous Quotes Using Airport
"If you want to know how it feels to be irrelevant, go to an airport and watch the planes take off without you." — Chuck Palahniuk
"Airports see more sincere kisses than wedding halls. The walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches." — Unknown (widely shared quote about human emotion)
"Life is an airport, not a final destination. You’re always in transit to somewhere new." — Joyce Meyer (paraphrased)
"To travel is to take a journey into yourself — and every airport is the portal." — Danny Kaye (actor and entertainer)
"The airport is the only place where you can run into someone you love, someone you miss, or someone you never want to see again — all before coffee." — Nora Ephron (paraphrased humor)
"Airports have seen more tears than theaters, and more reunions than any concert hall." — Anonymous
"I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning — it smells like possibility." — Anthony Bourdain (airport context paraphrased from travel essays)
"The airport is a great equalizer: everyone is barefoot, stressed, and one TSA pat-down away from losing it." — Mindy Kaling (humorous commentary on modern travel)
"In the airport, time is suspended, geography is erased, and identity is blurred." — Pico Iyer (travel writer)
"An airport is a place of hellos and goodbyes, but more importantly, it's where new chapters begin." — Oprah Winfrey (paraphrased from reflections on travel and transformation)
Etymology
The word "airport" is a pretty straightforward combination of two older words: "air" and "port."
"Air" refers to, well, the air, especially in the context of things that move through it, like aircraft. This part of the word became common as flying machines developed.
"Port" comes from the idea of a "port" for ships – a place where vessels arrive and depart, load and unload goods, and find shelter. It's essentially a harbor or a gateway.
So, when you put them together, "airport" literally means a "port for air" or a "harbor for aircraft."
While the idea of places for aircraft to take off and land existed earlier (often called "aerodromes" or "airfields"), the specific word "airport" started being used around the early 1900s, as air travel began to become more organized. Some sources point to its first known use in 1902, in reference to airships. However, it became more commonly used from 1919 onwards, particularly to describe places like Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was a facility designed for both land planes and seaplanes. This term really took off as air travel grew into a regular commercial activity, needing dedicated facilities beyond just open fields.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Airport
Airport lounge culture: Refers to the specific behaviors, atmosphere, and often transient community found in airport waiting areas.
Airport security nightmare: A common phrase describing frustrating or long experiences with airport security checks.
Airport run: The act of driving someone to or from the airport.
Airport casual: A style of dress that is comfortable and practical for air travel.
Airport food prices: A colloquialism referring to the typically high cost of food and beverages at airports.
Catching an airport shuttle: The common act of taking a bus or van service to an airport.
Living out of an airport: A hyperbolic phrase for someone who travels so frequently they spend a significant amount of time in airports.
Airfield of dreams: (Original/Metaphorical) A place where ambitions take flight, or where major ventures begin.
Clear for the runway: (Idiom with synonym) Indicating that everything is ready to proceed or begin.
Ground an aircraft (at an airport): (Used with a synonym) To keep a plane from flying, often due to maintenance or weather.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of airport from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
