Plain English Meaning

It is the marked path that links the route you fly on the way to an airport with the start of the instrument approach into that airport. It tells you which way to go, how far, and how low you can be while doing it.

Full Definition

A published route that connects the en route structure to an instrument approach procedure, providing a charted path from a feeder fix or initial approach fix into the approach itself. Terminal routes are depicted on instrument approach charts and define the course, distance, and minimum altitude a pilot must fly to transition from cruise to the .