plane
adjectivenounnounverbnounverbnouncommon in dialogue
- //pleɪn//
Of a surface: flat or level.
adjective
- 1
Of a surface: flat or level.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂-? Proto-Indo-European *pel-? Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂nós Proto-Italic *plānos Latin plānus Latin plānumder. English plane From Latin plānum (“flat surface”), a noun use of the neuter of plānus (“plain”). The word was introduced in the 17th century to distinguish the geometrical senses from the other senses of plain. Doublet of llano, piano, plain, and plan.
noun
- 1
A level or flat surface.
- 2
A flat surface extending infinitely in all directions (e.g. horizontal or vertical plane); a bounded portion thereof.
Mirrors in the compartments have been canted out of the vertical plane to reduce reflections to the passengers when seated.
- 3
A flat surface extending infinitely in all directions (e.g. horizontal or vertical plane); a bounded portion thereof. An imaginary plane which divides the body into two portions.
- 4
A level of existence or development.
astral plane
Nettie's stories about her experiences in Africa point out many parallels between the African and American ways of life. Her stories about the African lifestyle and family structure, in particular, point out the sexist and oppressive conditions that women are forced to submit to on a global plane.
- 5
A roughly flat, thin, often moveable structure used to create lateral force by the flow of air or water over its surface, found on aircraft, submarines, etc.
- 6
Any of 17 designated ranges of 2¹⁶ (65,536) sequential code points each.
noun
- 1
A tool for smoothing wood by removing thin layers from the surface.
Etymology
From Middle English plane, plaine, from Anglo-Norman plaine, from Late Latin plāna (“planing tool”).
verb
- 1
To smooth (wood) with a plane.
noun
- 1
An airplane; an aeroplane.
on a plane
The plane is travelling impossibly slowly – 30km an hour – when it gently noses up and leaves the ground. With air beneath them, the rangy wings seem to gain strength; the fuselage that on the ground seemed flimsy becomes elegant, like a crane vaunting in flight. It seems not to fly, though, so much as float.
Boeing said it agreed with the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ground the 737 Max 9 planes while they are inspected.
- 2
Any of various nymphalid butterflies, of various genera, having a slow gliding flight.
- 3
The butterfly Bindahara phocides, family Lycaenidae, of Asia and Australasia.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr) Ancient Greek πλανάω (planáō) Ancient Greek -ος (-os) Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ερόπλᾰνος (āeróplănos)der. French aéroplanebor. English aeroplaneclip. English plane Clipping of aeroplane.
verb
- 1
To move in a way that lifts the bow out of the water.
- 2
To glide or soar.
noun
- 1
A deciduous tree of the genus Platanus.
- 2
A sycamore.
Etymology
From Middle English plane, borrowed from Old French plane, from Latin platanus, from Ancient Greek πλάτανος (plátanos), from πλατύς (platús, “wide, broad”).
Forms
- plural
- planes
- comparative
- planer
- superlative
- planest
- past tense
- planed
- past participle
- planed
- present participle
- planing
- third person singular
- planes