Plain English Meaning
A way of turning around to head back to a point. The pilot flies out at a slight angle from the path they want to end up on, then makes one turn that brings them back onto that path. The shape drawn on the ground looks like a teardrop.
Full Definition
A course reversal maneuver in which the aircraft departs the fix outbound on a track offset from the inbound course (typically by about 30 degrees), flies for a specified time or distance, then turns back to intercept the inbound course. The flight path traced over the ground resembles the shape of a teardrop.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach and course-reversal discussions, especially when a or instructor describes how to leave a fix and return inbound.