Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense planes, present participle planing, past tense, past participle planed
1. countable noun
A plane is a vehicle with wings and one or more engines, which can fly through the air.
He had plenty of time to catch his plane.
Her mother was killed in a plane crash.
...fighter planes.
Synonyms: aeroplane, aircraft, jet, airliner More Synonyms of plane
2. countable noun
A plane is a flat, level surface which may be sloping at a particular angle.
...a building with angled planes.
Synonyms: flat surface, the flat, horizontal, level surface More Synonyms of plane
3. singular noun
If a number of points are in the same plane, one line or one flat surface could pass through them all.
All the planets orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane, round its equator.
4. countable noun [adjective NOUN]
If you say that something is on a higher plane, you mean that it is more spiritual or less concerned with ordinary things.
[literary]
...life on a higher plane of existence.
We felt we were living life on several different planes.
Synonyms: level, position, stage, footing More Synonyms of plane
5. countable noun
A plane is a tool that has a flat bottom with a sharp blade in it. You move the plane over a piece of wood in order to remove thin pieces of its surface.
6. verb
If you plane a piece of wood, you make it smaller or smoother by using a plane.
She watches him plane the surface of a walnut board. [VERB noun]
Again I planed the surface flush. [VERB noun adjective]
Plane down means the same as plane.
The piece was reduced in size by planing down the four corners. [VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
7. verb
If something such as a boat planesacross water, it moves quickly across the water, just touching the surface.
All four of the boats planed across the Solent with the greatest of ease. [Vacross n]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: skim, sail, skate, glide More Synonyms of plane
8. countable noun
A plane or a plane tree is a large tree with broad leaves which often grows in towns.
Phrasal verbs:
See plane down
More Synonyms of plane
plane in British English1
(pleɪn)
noun
1. mathematics
a flat surface in which a straight line joining any two of its points lies entirely on that surface
2.
a flat or level surface
3.
a level of existence, performance, attainment, etc
4.
a. short for aeroplane
b.
a wing or supporting surface of an aircraft or hydroplane
adjective
5.
level or flat
6. mathematics
(of a curve, figure, etc) lying entirely in one plane
verb(intransitive)
7.
to fly without moving wings or using engines; glide
8.
(of a boat) to rise partly and skim over the water when moving at a certain speed
9.
to travel by aeroplane
Derived forms
planeness (ˈplaneness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin plānum level surface
plane in British English2
(pleɪn)
noun
1.
a tool with an adjustable sharpened steel blade set obliquely in a wooden or iron body, for levelling or smoothing timber surfaces, cutting mouldings or grooves, etc
2.
a flat tool, usually metal, for smoothing the surface of clay or plaster in a mould
verb(transitive)
3.
to level, smooth, or cut (timber, wooden articles, etc) using a plane or similar tool
4. (often foll by off)
to remove using a plane
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Late Latin plāna plane, from plānāre to level
plane in British English3
(pleɪn)
noun
plane tree
plane in American English1
(pleɪn)
adjective
1.
flat; level; even
2. Ancient Mathematics
a.
lying on a surface that is a plane
b.
of such surfaces
noun
3.
a surface that wholly contains every straight line joining any two points lying in it
4.
a flat, level, or even surface
5.
a level of development, achievement, existence, etc.
6.
airplane
7.
any airfoil; esp., a wing of an airplane
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈlevel
Word origin
L planus: see plain1
plane in American English2
(pleɪn)
verb intransitiveWord forms: planed or ˈplaning
1.
to soar or glide
2.
to rise partly out of the water while in motion at high speed, as a hydroplane (sense 1) does
3.
to travel by airplane
Word origin
Fr planer < OFr plan, level surface (term used in falconry, in reference to position of bird's wings whilesoaring) < LL planare, to make level: see plane3
plane in American English3
(pleɪn)
noun
1.
a carpenter's tool for shaving a wood surface in order to make it smooth, level, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: planed or ˈplaning
2.
to make smooth or level with or as with a plane
3.
to remove with or as with a plane
with off or away
verb intransitive
4.
to work with a plane
5.
to do the work of a plane
Word origin
OFr plaine < LL plana < planare, to plane, make level < L planus: see plain1
plane in American English4
(pleɪn)
noun
any of a genus (Platanus) of trees of the plane-tree family having maplelike leaves, spherical dry fruits, and bark that sheds in large patches; sycamore
Word origin
ME < MFr plasne < L platanus < Gr platanos < platys, broad (see platy-): from its broad leaves
Examples of 'plane' in a sentence
plane
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
But it has now emerged detectives arrested them as they tried to board a plane.
The Sun (2016)
Only about 20 of the planes are still flying and spare parts are a problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When we boarded the plane back home, it was an empty feeling.
The Sun (2016)
She now hopes to become the youngest person to fly a powered plane solo on her 16th birthday.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The attendants stared at my partner, who had to hobble off the plane wearing just one shoe.
The Sun (2016)
She then said she wanted me to send her more money to buy a plane ticket so she can come and live with me.
The Sun (2017)
He said:'We have booked our plane tickets so we need to make sure we prepare right.
The Sun (2016)
Other tasks on offer include working in a TV studio, piloting a plane or scaling buildings.
The Sun (2016)
This would normally trigger another control unit to fly the plane automatically.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Flat planes of colour can look wonderful when cast in shadow by strong sunlight.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Think of the head in terms of planes at angles to one another.
Bennett, Darren Learn to Draw Cats (1999)
The leaves are beginning to turn yellow on the plane trees in city streets.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
No sooner had one plane got a green than the next one was signalling its code letter.
Len Deighton Bomber
He cancelled expensive procurement programmes for fighter planes and aircraft carriers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The different faults in the area show up as vertical planes cutting emphatically through the crust.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
What might have happened on board the plane that night?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was last seen climbing up the outside of a plane in mid air.
The Sun (2015)
It was not clear where the plane had taken off from or what its destination was.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Shows the pilot when the wings of the plane are centred or when they are banking to the left or right.
The Sun (2014)
Trains, planes and automobiles give the lie to that.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The planes pass 300 metres above us.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The intent is clear; the lovers are on another plane of existence.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
Nor is it expensive, just the cost of a train or plane ticket.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
From inside a plane on the flat apron you can't see much.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Draw your first sketch as though the cat were made of cardboard, with different planes at various angles to the light.
Bennett, Darren Learn to Draw Cats (1999)
Something refreshingly ditzy from the Spanish master, set on a plane heading for turmoil.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Word lists with
plane
tool, tree
In other languages
plane
British English: plane /pleɪn/ NOUN
aeroplane A plane is a vehicle with wings and one or more engines which can fly.
He had plenty of time to catch his plane.
American English: plane airplane
Arabic: طَائِرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: avião
Chinese: 飞机
Croatian: zrakoplov
Czech: letadlo
Danish: fly
Dutch: vliegtuig
European Spanish: avión
Finnish: lentokone
French: avion
German: Flugzeug
Greek: αεροπλάνο
Italian: aeroplano
Japanese: 飛行機 aeroplane
Korean: 비행기
Norwegian: fly
Polish: samolot
European Portuguese: avião
Romanian: avion
Russian: самолет
Latin American Spanish: avión
Swedish: flygplan
Thai: เครื่องบิน
Turkish: uçak
Ukrainian: літак
Vietnamese: máy bay
British English: plane /pleɪn/ NOUN
flat surface A plane is a flat level surface which may be sloping at a particular angle.
...a building with angled planes.
American English: plane surface
Arabic: سَطْحٌ مُسْتَوٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: plano superfície
Chinese: 平面
Croatian: ravnina
Czech: rovina
Danish: plan flade
Dutch: vlak
European Spanish: plano matemáticas
Finnish: taso pinta
French: plan surface
German: Ebene
Greek: επίπεδη επιφάνεια
Italian: piano
Japanese: 平面 surface
Korean: 평면
Norwegian: flate
Polish: płaszczyzna powierzchnia
European Portuguese: plano superfície
Romanian: plan
Russian: плоскость
Latin American Spanish: plano superficie
Swedish: plan yta
Thai: พื้นราบ
Turkish: düzlem
Ukrainian: площина
Vietnamese: mặt phẳng
British English: plane /pleɪn/ NOUN
tool A plane is a tool that has a flat bottom with a sharp blade in it, used for shaping wood.
American English: plane tool
Arabic: مَنْجَر
Brazilian Portuguese: plaina
Chinese: 刨子
Croatian: blanja
Czech: hoblík
Danish: høvl
Dutch: schaaf
European Spanish: cepillo de carpintero
Finnish: höylä
French: rabot
German: Hobel
Greek: πλάνη εργαλείο
Italian: pialla
Japanese: かんな 道具
Korean: 대패 연장
Norwegian: høvel
Polish: hebel narzędzie
European Portuguese: plaina
Romanian: rindea
Russian: рубанок
Latin American Spanish: cepillo de carpintero
Swedish: hyvel
Thai: กบไสไม้
Turkish: rende
Ukrainian: стругальний верстат
Vietnamese: cái bào
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All related terms of 'plane'
jet plane
an aircraft powered by one or more jet engines
spy plane
an aircraft used to carry out surveillance of an enemy country or military formations from a high altitude
try plane
a plane with a long body for planing the edges of long boards
block plane
a carpenter's small plane used to cut across the end grain of wood
cargo plane
a plane carrying cargo
datum plane
the horizontal plane from which heights and depths are calculated
fault plane
the plane along which a fault line occurs
float plane
any aircraft that lands on and takes off from water
focal plane
the plane that is perpendicular to the axis of a lens or mirror and passes through the focal point
jack plane
a carpenter's plane, usually with a wooden body, used for rough planing of timber
main plane
one of the principal supporting surfaces of an aircraft , esp either of the wings
model plane
a small-scale model of an aircraft, which may or may not be able to fly
plane angle
an angle between two intersecting lines
plane chart
a chart used in plane sailing , in which the lines of latitude and longitude are straight and parallel
plane crash
an accident in which an aircraft hits land or water and is damaged or destroyed
plane down
plane table
a surveying instrument consisting of a drawing board mounted on adjustable legs , and used in the field for plotting measurements directly
plane tree
any tree of the genus Platanus, having ball-shaped heads of fruits and leaves with pointed lobes : family Platanaceae. The hybrid P . × acerifolia ( London plane ) is frequently planted in towns
robot plane
an unmanned plane
space plane
any of a series of reusable US space vehicles ( Columbia ( exploded 2003), Challenger (exploded 1986), Discovery , Atlantis , Endeavour ) that could be launched into earth orbit , transporting astronauts and equipment for a period of observation , research , etc, before re-entry and an unpowered landing on a runway . The first operational flight took place in 1981 and it was taken out of service in 2011
astral plane
a plane of existence inhabited by astral bodies
bedding plane
the surface separating two successive layers of stratified rock
charter plane
a plane that has been chartered
convexo-plane
→ plano-convex
fighter plane
a person who fights, esp a professional boxer
freight plane
an aeroplane used to transport goods
ground plane
the theoretical horizontal plane receding from the picture plane to the horizon , beginning at the level of the base line
London plane
the hybrid plane : Platanus hybrida
picture plane
the plane of a painting , drawing , or the like, that is in the extreme foreground of a picture , is coextensive with but not the same as the material surface of the work, is the point of visual contact between the viewer and the picture, and is conceived as a major structural element in the production of abstract or illusionistic forms
plane journey
a journey made by flying in an aeroplane
plane sailing
navigation without reference to the earth's curvature
plane spotter
a person who observes , photographs, and catalogues aircraft as a hobby
plane strain
Plane strain is a two-dimensional state of strain in which all the shape changes of a material happen on a single plane.
plane stress
Plane stress is a two-dimensional state of stress in which all stress is applied in a single plane.
plane ticket
a ticket entitling the holder to travel on an aircraft
pursuit plane
a fighter plane , esp one before the Second World War, that travels at high speeds and pursues enemy aircraft
rocket plane
a plane powered by rockets
spotter plane
an aircraft used in observing enemy movements or the accuracy of fire on a target
trying plane
a plane with a long body for planing the edges of long boards
fillister plane
an adjustable plane for cutting rabbets , grooves , etc
galactic plane
the plane passing through the spiral arms of the Galaxy
inclined plane
a plane whose angle to the horizontal is less than a right angle
jointing plane
a tool for pointing mortar joints , as in brickwork
plane geometry
the study of the properties of and relationships between plane curves , figures , etc
plane surveying
the surveying of areas of limited size, making no corrections for the earth's curvature
training plane
a plane used for training pilots , esp in the military
plane polarization
a type of polarization in which the electric vector of waves of light or other electromagnetic radiation is restricted to vibration in a single plane
warplane
A warplane is an aircraft that is designed to be used for fighting , for example to attack other aircraft or to drop bombs .
focal plane shutter
an opaque shield in a camera , lying in the focal plane of the lens , that, when tripped , admits light to expose the film or plate for a predetermined period, usually a fraction of a second
ground-plane aerial
a quarter-wave vertical dipole aerial in which the electrical image forming the other quarter-wave section is formed by reflection in a system of radially disposed metal rods or in a conductive sheet