The proton-air inelastic cross section value sigmapairin=338$pm$21({it stat})$pm$19({it syst})-28({it syst}) mb at $sqrt{s} approx $ 2 TeV has been measured by the EAS-TOP Extensive Air Shower experiment. The absorption length of cosmic ray proton primaries cascades reaching the maximum development at the observation level is obtained from the flux attenuation for different zenith angles (i.e. atmospheric depths). The analysis, including the effects of the heavier primaries contribution and systematic uncertainties, is described. The experimental result is compared with different high energy interaction models and the relationships with the {it pp} ($bar pp$) total cross section measurements are discussed.
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