Plain English Meaning

The controller tells you which compass heading to fly, and by giving you a series of these headings, guides you along the path they want you to take.

Full Definition

The provision of navigational guidance to an aircraft by air traffic control, in which the controller assigns specific headings to direct the aircraft along a desired ground track, typically using radar to monitor the aircraft's position.

Context Anchor

You will hear vectoring during instrument departures, arrivals, approaches, and traffic sequencing when a controller gives headings such as “fly heading 270.”