what is the tarmac
â¢ TARMAC (noun). The noun TARMAC has 2 senses: 1. a paving material of tar and broken stone; mixed in a factory and shaped during paving. 2. a paved surface having compressed layers of broken rocks held together with tar. Familiarity information: TARMAC used as a noun is rare. â¢ TARMAC (verb).