Plain English Meaning

The strip of pavement (or prepared surface) you take off from and land on. The number painted on it tells you roughly which compass direction it points.

Full Definition

A defined rectangular area on a land airport prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. Runways are identified by a number based on their magnetic heading rounded to the nearest 10 degrees, with the trailing zero dropped (e.g., a runway aligned to 273° magnetic is labeled Runway 27).

Context Anchor

Seen on approach charts, airport diagrams, radar approach figures, and other written airport information where space is limited.