A plank is a long, flat, rectangular piece of wood.
It was very strong, made of three solid planks of wood. [+ of]
Synonyms: board, beam, timber, stave More Synonyms of plank
2. countable noun
The main plankof a particular group or political party is the main principle on which it bases its policy, or its main aim.
[journalism]
Encouraging people to shop locally is a central plank of his environment policy. [+ of]
3. countable noun
Planks are exercises for strengthening your stomach and back muscles. They involve holding your body straight and horizontal with your hands or elbows and toes or knees on the floor.
For over an hour, I did planks, squats, lunges and crunches.
plank in British English1
(plæŋk)
noun
1.
a stout length of sawn timber
2.
something that supports or sustains
3.
one of the policies in a political party's programme
4. walk the plank
5. British slang
a person lacking intelligence or sense
verb(transitive)
6.
to cover or provide (an area) with planks
7.
to beat (meat) to make it tender
8. mainly US and Canadian
to cook or serve (meat or fish) on a special wooden board
Word origin
C13: from Old Norman French planke, from Late Latin planca board, from plancus flat-footed; probably related to Greek plax flat surface
plank in British English2
(plæŋk)
verb
(transitive) Scottish
to hide; cache
Word origin
C19: a variant of plant
plank in American English
(plæŋk)
noun
1.
a long, broad, thick board
2.
planking (sense 2)
3.
something that supports or sustains
4. US
any of the articles or principles making up the platform or stated program of a political party
verb transitive
5.
to cover, lay, or furnish with planks
6. US
to broil and serve (steak, fish, etc.) on a board or wooden platter
7. Informal
a.
to lay or set (down) with force or emphasis
b. US
to pay
usually with down or out
Idioms:
walk the plank
Word origin
ME planke < NormFr < OFr planche < LL planca, a board, plank < VL palanca < Gr phalangai < phalanx (gen. phalangos): see phalanx
More idioms containing
plank
walk the plank
Examples of 'plank' in a sentence
plank
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
So must be the pair who prematurely walked the plank.
The Sun (2017)
Many of the wooden planks on the spacious, modern pier have been reclaimed from the original structure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
IT is expected to form a central plank of that programme.
Computing (2010)
I noticed a plank of wood up against the back door.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Side plank TURN onto your side with your legs straight and your feet stacked on top of each other.
The Sun (2016)
So here's Chilcot making them both walk the plank.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A central plank of his argument is that while Nato members need to spend more on defence, money will not be enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The floor of the cab is made of wooden planks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The personality of a plank of wood.
The Sun (2014)
Stand on a plank or board to spread the load.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It will form a key plank of his youth volunteering programme.
The Sun (2006)
Few now care that this was but a minor plank in his policy platform.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This was the main plank in the platform he ran on.
Christianity Today (2000)
Side plank up so the weight of your body is on your forearm and feet.
The Sun (2013)
The floor is made up of polished wooden planks covered in old rugs.
The Sun (2010)
Instead there is a square of grey with a plank of wood.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It was a main plank of their manifesto.
The Sun (2015)
Stone walls are left exposed or clad with broad wooden planks and painted white.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He removes a small plank of wood from his pocket.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And the main plank of the justification of his view was distinctly wobbly.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And they are signalling strongly that such taxation would be a central plank of any future coalition between them.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Just avoid the basic front and side plank that require you to stay in one position for a prolonged time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He went across to the main door and took up one of the planks which had previously barred entry to the church.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
Return to the plank position, one arm at a time.
The Sun (2009)
It was the key plank of their Euro election campaign this month.
The Sun (2009)
A thirst to progress is one of the central planks of any organisation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A central plank of the new system is a better deal for bereaved families.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Run or power walk for three minutes to an open space, then hold a plank for six long breaths.
The Sun (2012)
Childhood obesity is, in fact, the key plank of government policy today.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Its sale, after all, forms a key plank of government policy to promote competition in retail banking.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
plank
British English: plank NOUN
A plank is a long, flat, rectangular piece of wood.
It was very strong, made of three solid planks of wood.
American English: plank
Brazilian Portuguese: tábua
Chinese: 长方形木板
European Spanish: tabla
French: planche
German: Brett
Italian: asse
Japanese: 厚板
Korean: 널빤지
European Portuguese: tábua
Latin American Spanish: tabla
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'plank'
plank-sheer
a plank or timber covering the upper ends of the frames of a wooden vessel
stop plank
a board or boarding that is placed along the top of a dam to increase its height and capacity
wrest plank
the part of a piano in which the wrest pin is embedded
garboard plank
the bottommost plank of a vessel's hull
walk the plank
to accept responsibility for something that has gone wrong and leave your position
Chinese translation of 'plank'
plank
(plæŋk)
n(c)
[of wood]板 (bǎn) (块(塊), kuài)
the main/central plank[of policy, argument]主要/中心政纲(綱)准(準)则(則) (zhǔyào/zhōngxīn zhènggāng zhǔnzé)
(noun)
Definition
a long flat piece of sawn timber
made of three solid planks of wood
Synonyms
board
The floor was draughty bare boards.
beam
The ceilings are supported by oak beams.
timber
stave
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beam
Definition
a long thick piece of wood, metal, etc. used in building