Definition
A specific point on a taxiway or runway, marked by a hold-short line, beyond which an aircraft must not proceed without explicit ATC clearance. It defines the boundary that protects an active runway, an instrument landing system critical area, or another protected surface from incursion.
Plain English
A line on the ground that tells you to stop and wait until the controller says you can go past it.
Context Anchor
You encounter this during land and hold short operations, usually through an air traffic control landing clearance and runway markings or signs.
Derivation
From 'hold' (to keep in place) and 'short' (meaning before, not reaching). To 'hold short' is to stop before reaching something. The 'point' is the exact location where that stop must occur.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents runway incursions by ensuring positive separation between aircraft and active runways.
Intuition Check
Do not treat a hold-short point as any convenient place to stop. In this context, it is a specific limit tied to a clearance, and accepting the clearance means you must remain before it.
Example Sentence 1
Tower instructed us to taxi to Runway 27 via Alpha and hold short of Runway 32.
Example Sentence 2
ATC directed the aircraft to hold at the hold-short point until the departing traffic cleared the runway.