ground-controlled approach
noun · n
Simple meaning
Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
growndkahntrohlduhprohchSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɡɹaʊndˈkɑntˈɹoʊldəpɹoʊtʃ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar
n
In aviation, a ground-controlled approach is a type of service provided by air-traffic controllers whereby they guide aircraft to a safe landing, including in adverse weather conditions, based on primary radar images.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar
Used this way, ground-controlled approach is a specialist word with a clearly warm, approving pull. This sense is used where position and measurement matter — travel, weather and flight — so it reads as factual rather than emotive.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Gentle
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Careful and exacting
- Usage feel
- Clinical and detached
Where it naturally appears
- Geography/travel
- Weather/aviation
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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