apron
gb/ˈeɪpɹən/ us/ˈeɪpɹən/
A2
English
~ 6800
kötény, forgalmi előtér, előszínpad, burkolt előtér, védőburkolat
NOUN
A2
1
kötény
A2
Usage pattern:
to wear an apron while [doing something]
She tied her apron around her waist before starting to cook.
Mielőtt főzni kezdett, a dereka köré kötötte a kötényét.
The barista wears a green apron with the company logo on it.
A barista a cég logójával ellátott zöld kötényt visel.
He threw his paint-splattered apron in the wash after finishing the mural.
Nurses were asked to put on disposable aprons when entering the isolation ward.
The children each got a little apron for the baking class.
Learner examples
I wear an apron when I cook dinner.
Kötényt viselek, amikor vacsorát főzök.
Her apron is dirty because she made a big cake.
Piszkos a köténye, mert nagy tortát sütött.
The waiter puts on a clean apron every morning.
Please take off your apron before you leave the kitchen.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I wear apron"* without an article. In most cases, you should say *"I wear **an** apron"*. Some learners also confuse *apron* with *uniform*; an apron is only a protective layer on the front of your body, not your full work clothing.
Meaning
Protective garment worn over clothes
Collocations
wear an apron
|kitchen apron
|put on an apron
|take off your apron
|white apron
|plastic apron
Synonyms
smock (Often a looser, longer protective garment, especially used in art, school, or medical settings.)
Antonyms
bare (Describes having no protective covering or clothing, the opposite of wearing an apron for protection.)
Themes
daily life
|household
|work
|daily_life
|clothing
|food_drink
Definition
A piece of cloth or plastic you wear over your clothes, on the front of your body, to keep your clothes clean when you cook or do dirty work.
A piece of clothing that covers the front of the body and is worn over other clothes to protect them from dirt, stains, or damage, especially while cooking or doing messy work.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
to park an aircraft on the apron
Several buses were waiting on the apron to take passengers to the terminal.
Több busz várakozott a forgalmi előtéren, hogy az utasokat a terminálhoz vigye.
The plane stopped on the apron and the ground crew rushed in to unload the luggage.
A repülőgép megállt a forgalmi előtéren, és a földi személyzet odasietett, hogy kipakolja a poggyászt.
Heavy rain flooded part of the airport apron and delayed departures.
From the lounge window you can see the entire apron and all the parked aircraft.
The airline plans to expand its maintenance area on the eastern side of the apron.
Learner examples
The plane is waiting on the apron.
A repülőgép a forgalmi előtéren várakozik.
We saw many planes parked on the apron.
Sok repülőgépet láttunk parkolni a forgalmi előtéren.
Workers drove small trucks across the apron to the plane.
Common mistake:
Learners often call all outside areas of an airport *runway*. The *runway* is only for takeoff and landing. The *apron* is where planes park to load people, bags, and fuel. Also, in everyday speech many people say *tarmac* instead of *apron*.
Meaning
Paved airport area for parked aircraft
Collocations
airport apron
|on the apron
|aircraft parked on the apron
|taxi to the apron
|apron area
|ground crew on the apron
Synonyms
tarmac (Common informal term for the paved areas of an airport; often used by the general public even though it is less precise than *apron*.)
Antonyms
runway (The part of an airport where planes actually take off and land, as opposed to being parked or serviced on the apron.)
Themes
travel
|transport
|aviation
|transportation
Definition
The flat, paved part of an airport where planes park to let people and bags on or off and to get fuel, not the runway.
A paved area of an airport where aircraft are parked, loaded or unloaded, refueled, or boarded, but which is not used for takeoff or landing.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
előszínpad
C1
Usage pattern:
to step onto the apron
The actor moved to the apron to deliver his final monologue directly to the audience.
A színész az előszínpadra lépett, hogy közvetlenül a közönséghez intézze az utolsó monológját.
Extra lighting was installed along the apron to make the performers more visible.
Az előszínpad mentén kiegészítő világítást szereltek fel, hogy jobban láthatók legyenek az előadók.
The director asked the singer to start on the apron and then move back toward the main stage.
Seats close to the apron were sold out first.
Because the theater has a deep apron, the play feels very intimate.
Learner examples
The actor walks to the apron and talks to the crowd.
A színész az előszínpadra lép, és a közönséghez beszél.
There are bright lights along the apron of the stage.
Erős fények világítanak az előszínpad mentén.
She likes to stand on the apron so the audience can see her face clearly.
Common mistake:
Learners may think *apron* always means clothing. In theater language, *apron* is a part of the stage, not something you wear. Also, do not say *"the apron of the theater"* when you mean the whole stage; it is only the front part.
Meaning
Front extension of a theater stage
Collocations
apron stage
|stand on the apron
|actors on the apron
|lights along the apron
|perform on the apron
Synonyms
forestage (A more technical theater term for the front part of a stage that extends toward the audience.)
Antonyms
backstage (Refers to the area behind or off the stage, hidden from the audience, the opposite location to the forward-facing apron.)
Themes
arts
|theater
|arts_entertainment
Definition
The front part of a theater stage that sticks out toward the audience, in front of the main curtain.
The part of a theater stage that projects into the audience area, in front of the main curtain or proscenium arch.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
védőburkolat
C1
Usage pattern:
to lay an apron in front of [a structure]
The delivery trucks back up to a large concrete apron outside the warehouse doors.
A szállító teherautók a raktárajtók előtti nagy betonozott előtérre tolatnak.
The engineer recommended installing a new apron to protect the bridge supports from erosion.
A mérnök új védőburkolat kialakítását javasolta, hogy megvédjék a hídpilléreket a kimosódástól.
They replaced the broken driveway apron at the edge of the street.
Rainwater pools on the old apron in front of the garage.
Workers poured a thick apron of concrete at the base of the tower.
Learner examples
There is a concrete apron in front of the garage.
A garázs előtt betonozott előtér van.
The truck stops on the apron next to the building.
A teherautó az épület melletti burkolt előtéren áll meg.
They built a new apron to protect the bridge.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical sense with the clothing meaning. In construction, an *apron* is a flat surface, usually made of concrete, not something you wear. The meaning must be guessed from context: if trucks, roads, or buildings are mentioned, it is probably this sense.
Meaning
Flat protective surface in front of a structure
Collocations
concrete apron
|loading apron
|garage apron
|driveway apron
|bridge apron
|apron slab
Synonyms
slab (Refers generally to a flat piece of concrete or stone, without the specific idea of being in front of or around a structure.)
Antonyms
opening (An empty or unpaved space where there is no protective or supporting surface, contrasting with a solid apron.)
Themes
construction
|infrastructure
|housing
|work
Definition
A flat area of concrete, stone, or similar material in front of or around a building or opening, used to protect the ground or make a smooth surface for cars, trucks, or people.
A flat, usually paved or concreted surface or strip placed in front of, under, or around a structure or opening to provide support, protection, or a smooth transition to surrounding ground or roadway.
Grammar
Dictionary form
apron
IPA
GB/ˈeɪpɹən/
US/ˈeɪpɹən/
Syllables & stress
ap - ron (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ap)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: apron
- Plural: aprons
Word family
Forms
aprons
noun
Expressions
airport apron
1/ˈɛɹpˌɔɹt ˈeɪpɹən/
fixed phrase
technical
Paved aircraft parking area at airport
The flat, paved area of an airport where planes park, take passengers and bags on and off, and get fuel.
Examples
- Several new lights were installed on the airport apron to improve safety at night.
- From the terminal windows we watched the airport apron fill with planes during the morning rush.
apron stage
1/ˈeɪpɹən stˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
Stage that projects into the audience
A type of stage in a theater where the front part sticks out into the audience area, in front of the main curtain.
Examples
- The play works well on an apron stage because the actors are so close to the audience.
- Our school theater has an apron stage, so we often use the front area for small scenes.
cut the apron strings
1/kˈʌt ðə ˈeɪpɹən stɹˈɪŋz/
idiom
informal
To become independent from someone
To stop being so dependent on your parents or another person, and start living and deciding things for yourself.
Examples
- It's time for him to cut the apron strings and find his own place to live.
- Leaving home to study abroad really helped her cut the apron strings.
- Parents sometimes struggle when their children want to cut the apron strings.
tied to someone's apron strings
1/tˈaɪd tə sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈeɪpɹən stɹˈɪŋz/
idiom
informal
To be too dependent on someone
To be too dependent on someone, usually your mother or another family member, so that you do not make your own decisions.
Examples
- At thirty-five, he is still tied to his mother's apron strings and won't move out.
- She worries that her son is too tied to her apron strings to cope at university.
- The article said young adults must stop being tied to their parents' apron strings if they want real independence.