Definition

1. Noun:
   • A protective garment: A piece of clothing, typically made of cloth, leather, or plastic, that is tied around the waist and worn to protect one's clothing from dirt, spills, or damage, especially while cooking or working.
   • A paved area for aircraft: A hard-surfaced area on an airfield where aircraft are parked, loaded, unloaded, or serviced.
   • A stage extension: The part of a modern theater stage that extends in front of the proscenium arch and the main curtain, often used for scenes that require a closer connection to the audience.
   • A golf course area: In golf, the closely mown area of grass, often bordering a sand trap, that lies between the fairway and the putting green.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Protective garment):
  • She tied her apron before starting to bake the cake.
  • The carpenter's leather apron was covered in sawdust.
• Noun (Aircraft area):
  • The plane taxied from the runway to the apron for refueling.
  • Ground crew worked busily on the crowded airport apron.
• Noun (Stage extension):
  • The actor delivered a soliloquy from the apron, close to the front row.
  • The play's intimate scene was performed on the apron.
• Noun (Golf area):
  • His chip shot from the apron rolled gently onto the green.
  • The ball landed on the apron, just short of the putting surface.

Advanced Usage

• "To be tied to someone's apron strings": To be excessively controlled or influenced by someone, especially one's mother.
  • Even as an adult, he was still tied to his mother's apron strings.
• "The apron of the glacier": In geology, a metaphorical use describing the broad, sloping mass of rock debris at the foot of a mountain or glacier.

Variants and Related Words

• Aproned (adj.): Wearing an apron.
  • The aproned chef greeted the guests.
• Apron stage (n.): A stage that projects into the audience and is surrounded on three sides by spectators; a thrust stage.
• Apron string (n.): Literally, the string used to tie an apron; figuratively, a symbol of maternal control or influence (as in the idiom above).

Synonyms

• Protective garment: Smock, pinafore, coverall.
• Paved area: Tarmac, ramp, hardstand (specific to aviation).
• Stage extension: Forestage, thrust.
• Golf area: Fringe, collar.

Related Phrases

• Apron of a dock: The area immediately in front of or around a ship dock.
• Apron of a dam: A protective layer of concrete or masonry at the base of a dam to prevent erosion.

Related Idioms

• To cut the apron strings: To become independent from one's mother or a controlling influence.
  • Moving away for university helped him finally cut the apron strings.

Noun

1. a paved surface where aircraft stand while not being used
2. the part of a modern theater stage between the curtain and the orchestra (i.e., in front of the curtain)
3. (golf) the part of the fairway leading onto the green
4. a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing