landing strip
B2Neutral to Technical
Definition
Meaning
A long, narrow area of level ground prepared for aircraft to land on and take off from.
A long, narrow strip or path created for any purpose; informally, a hairstyle where hair is shaved off along a central line on the scalp.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In its core sense, it suggests a simple, often temporary or unpaved, airstrip, contrasting with a full 'airport' or 'airfield'. The informal, humorous hairstyle sense is a metaphorical extension.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term for aviation and hairstyle. The aviation term is slightly more common in British English, which also uses 'airstrip' interchangeably. 'Runway' is the standard term for major airports.
Connotations
In aviation, neutral/technical. For hairstyle, mildly humorous or dated slang.
Frequency
Moderately common in aviation contexts; the hairstyle sense is now relatively rare.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + landing strip (clear, use, approach)[Adjective] + landing strip (remote, makeshift, private)landing strip + [Preposition] + [Noun] (landing strip for small planes)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for 'landing strip' itself]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, unless in logistics, tourism (e.g., 'The safari lodge has its own landing strip.')
Academic
Used in geography, aviation studies, military history.
Everyday
Understood, but not common unless discussing aviation, remote travel, or humorously about hairstyles.
Technical
Common in aviation, aeronautical engineering, and military contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The pilot will need to land on that remote landing strip.
- They managed to land the light aircraft on the makeshift landing strip.
American English
- The bush plane had to land on a short landing strip.
- We'll land on the private landing strip near the ranch.
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable; 'landing strip' is not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable; 'landing strip' is not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The landing strip lights were barely visible in the fog.
- They assessed the landing strip conditions before departure.
American English
- The landing strip surface was rough and grassy.
- They checked the landing strip length for suitability.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The small plane flew to the landing strip.
- Look, there is a long landing strip.
- The rescue plane used a remote landing strip in the mountains.
- He built a simple landing strip on his farm for his private plane.
- The documentary showed pilots navigating to makeshift landing strips in the jungle.
- Due to the emergency, the large jet had to use a military landing strip not designed for its size.
- The feasibility of the expedition hinged on the existence of a serviceable landing strip within fifty miles.
- The diplomat's helicopter bypassed the congested airport, touching down directly on the secure landing strip within the compound.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a strip of land, cleared and long, where planes land. It's literally a 'strip' for 'landing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PATH IS A STRIP (The prepared path for the aircraft is conceptualized as a narrow, defined strip).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'посадочная полоса' only for the core meaning; the hairstyle sense does not translate directly and would require explanation.
- Do not confuse with 'взлетно-посадочная полоса' (runway), which is more formal and permanent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'landing strip' to refer to the main runway at a major international airport (use 'runway').
- Misspelling as 'landing-strip' (usually open compound).
Practice
Quiz
In informal slang, 'landing strip' can humorously refer to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'landing strip' (or 'airstrip') often implies a simpler, sometimes unpaved or temporary area for aircraft, typically in remote locations. A 'runway' is the formal, paved surface at an airport, equipped with lighting and markings for scheduled commercial flights.
No, it is specific to aircraft. For spacecraft, terms like 'launch pad', 'landing site', or 'spaceport' are used.
It was popular slang in the late 20th/early 21st century but is now considered somewhat dated, though still understood in a humorous context.
In the core aviation sense, yes, they are generally interchangeable. 'Airstrip' might be very slightly more technical, but the difference is negligible.