ˈeɪprən n. 1 a a
garment covering and protecting
the front of a person's
clothes,
either from chest or
waist level, and
tied at the
back. b
official clothing of
this kind (bishop's apron). c
anything resembling an apron in
shape or
function. 2 Theatr. the
part of a
stage in front of the
curtain. 3 the hard-surfaced
area on an
airfield used
for manoeuvring or
loading aircraft. 4 an
endless conveyor belt. øtied to a person's apron-strings dominated by or
dependent on
that person (usu. a woman). øøaproned adj. apronful n. (pl. -fuls). [ME naperon etc. f. OF dimin. of
nape table-cloth f. L mappa: for
loss of n
cf. ADDER]