runway

Noun

runway (plural runways)

1. A defined, narrow section of land or an artificial structure used for access.
   • The invention comprehends an inclined runway or cable connected at its upper end in any desirable way to a point adjacent the bin, pocket, or chute to which the coal is to be delivered and connected at its lower end to a post or other point of attachment located at the side of the pile of coal. […]...1894 December 10, Frank H[enry] Symons, Apparatus for Reloading Coal, US Patent 546,790, page 1
   • From many years’ experience with automobiles, I have known the manner of signaling by horn to the garage keeper or elevator man the desire to enter the building. As many garages are located in residence districts, this is truly a very annoying custom and should be stopped. To overcome this nuisance...1915 December 7 [1915 December 4], F. H. W., “For the Auto Horn Nuisance.”, in The New York Times, volume LXV, number 21,136, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 12, column 6
2. The usual path taken by deer or other wild animals, such as from a forest to a water source.
   • There is a water-break formed by a small terrace of rock in mid-stream, and purling with a hollow, delicious monotone—an island of pebbles is above, with here and there smaller ones near the "forks." This pebbly island is directly on the runway, or customary trail which the hunted deer pursues...1846 October, Alfred B[illings] Street, “A Day’s Hunting about the Mongaup”, in George R[ex] Graham, editor, Graham’s American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art, volume XXIX, number 4...
   • These streams have always been, and, of right ought to be, the runways for shad and salmon, when these fishes are seeking a spawning bed;[…]. The public at large, […] are entitled to have the full benefit of these runways free from any such permanent obstructions as will prevent the ready passage...1874, “Fifth Annual Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of New Jersey for the Year 1874”, in Documents of the Ninety-ninth Session of the Legislature of New Jersey, Thirty-first...
3. A narrow walkway (often on a platform) extending from a stage on which people walk, especially one used by models during fashion shows.
   • He halfheartedly paid attention to the flurry of activity on the runway, until a thunderous round of applause suddenly broke out. He then sat up straight, giving his full attention to the striking, attention-grabbing model who'd just strolled onto the runway.2009, Linda Hudson-Smith, chapter 1, in Romancing the Runway (Kimani Romance), Washington, D.C.: Kimani Press, →ISBN
   • At a time when “heroin chic” ruled the runway, the press tormented the granddaughter of Roald Dahl about her curvier body.2023 November 18, Jess Cartner-Morley, Chloe Mac Donnell, “40 outrageous photos that changed fashion, from teenage Kate Moss to Twiggy in a mini and Lady Gaga’s meat dress”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms:

   catwalk

4. In javelin, long jump, and similar events: a short track along which athletes can accelerate themselves for their jumps or throws.
   • Proper footwear is a must for javelin throwing. To some degree the surface of the runway will dictate the type of shoe.1969, Virginia Parker, Robert [Emmett] Kennedy, Track and Field for Girls and Women (Saunders Physical Activities Series), Philadelphia, Pa.: W. B. Saunders, →OCLC, page 84
   • The main goal of the approach run is to attain the maximum controllable running speed on the runway immediately prior to the throw.1984, Robert Fong Sing, The Dynamics of the Javelin Throw, Cherry Hill, N.J.: Reynolds Publishers, →ISBN, page 44
5. A section of land, usually paved, for airplanes to land on or take off from.
   • Down at the end of the field when ready for the take-off, I'd taxi the ship off the runway and tell him why I did that—"so as not to block incoming ships," and I'd tell him at the same time why the incoming ship was supposed to land in the first third of the field and why in the take-off we were...1945, Robert Lee Scott Jr., Runway to the Sun, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Sons, →OCLC, page 135
   • Space Shuttle. A human-operated space vehicle launched by a rocket to orbit the Earth and then return to Earth and land undamaged on a runway like a conventional airplane.1985, Mark Stephen Monmonier, “Glossary”, in Technological Transition in Cartography, Madison, Wis.; London: University of Wisconsin Press, →ISBN, page 267
6. (informal) The number of months that a startup company can operate by using up its cash reserves.
   • So, if you have $1.8M in the bank and monthly burn rate of $150,000, you have a runway of 12 months.2014, Paul Paetz, “End Game”, in Disruption by Design: How to Create Products that Disrupt and Dominate Markets, Berkeley, Calif.: Apress, →ISBN, part III (The Last Mile), page 235
   • There was so much investment—as much capital as twice the GDP of Tuvalu—which meant we must have enough runway, right?2020, Emily Segal, Mercury Retrograde, New York: Deluge Books, →ISBN
7. A stream bed.