traffic pattern

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Word: Traffic Pattern

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "traffic pattern" refers to the specific path that airplanes follow when they are getting ready to land at an airport. It is like a set route in the sky that pilots use to safely approach the runway.

Explanation:

When airplanes are flying close to an airport, they cannot just land anywhere. Instead, they follow a traffic pattern, which is a structured and organized way to manage many planes in the air, especially when it’s busy or crowded. This helps avoid accidents and ensures that all planes land safely.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "traffic pattern" to talk about how planes navigate during their approach to an airport.
• It’s often used in discussions about aviation, airport operations, and air traffic control.

Example Sentences:

1. "The traffic patterns around O'Hare are very crowded, especially during peak travel times."
2. "They stayed in the traffic pattern until the fog lifted, allowing them to land safely."

Advanced Usage:

In more technical discussions, pilots and air traffic controllers might refer to specific types of traffic patterns, such as "left-hand traffic pattern" or "right-hand traffic pattern," which indicate the direction in which the planes should turn while flying in the pattern.

Word Variants:

• Traffic (noun): The movement of vehicles or planes.
• Pattern (noun): A design or arrangement.

Different Meanings:

• "Traffic" can also refer to the movement of vehicles on roads, while "pattern" can refer to any repeated design or arrangement in various contexts (e.g., a fabric pattern).

Synonyms:

• Flight route
• Approach pattern
• Landing pattern

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "traffic pattern" itself doesn’t have idioms or phrasal verbs directly associated with it, here are some related expressions: - "In the pattern": This can mean following a routine or method, similar to how planes follow their traffic patterns. - "Get in line": This expression is used when someone needs to wait for their turn, similar to planes waiting in a traffic pattern before landing.

Summary:

"Traffic pattern" is an important term in aviation that describes the route airplanes take as they prepare to land.

Academic

Noun

1. the path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport
   • the traffic patterns around O'Hare are very crowded
   • they stayed in the pattern until the fog lifted

Synonyms

• approach pattern
• pattern