plane
1a flat or level surface.
Geometry. a surface generated by a straight line moving at a constant velocity with respect to a fixed point.
Fine Arts. an area of a two-dimensional surface having determinate extension and spatial direction or position: oblique plane; horizontal plane.
a level of dignity, character, existence, development, or the like: a high moral plane.
Aeronautics.
an airplane or a hydroplane: to take a plane to Dallas.
a thin, flat or curved, extended section of an airplane or a hydroplane, affording a supporting surface.
Architecture. a longitudinal section through the axis of a column.
flat or level, as a surface.
of or relating to planes or plane figures.
to glide or soar.
(of a boat) to rise partly out of the water when moving at high speed.
Informal. to fly or travel in an airplane: We'll drive to Detroit and plane to Los Angeles.
Origin of plane
1Other words for plane
Other words from plane
- planeness, noun
Words that may be confused with plane
Other definitions for plane (2 of 3)
Carpentry. any of various woodworking instruments for paring, truing, or smoothing, or for forming moldings, chamfers, rabbets, grooves, etc., by means of an inclined, adjustable blade moved along and against the piece being worked.
a trowellike tool for smoothing the surface of clay in a brick mold.
to smooth or dress with or as if with a plane or a planer.
to remove by or as if by means of a plane (usually followed by away or off).
to work with a plane.
to function as a plane.
Origin of plane
2Other definitions for plane (3 of 3)
Origin of plane
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use plane in a sentence
Another invention produced in the same year was Woodworth's machine for planing wood.
Invention | Bradley A. FiskeHe was planing and polishing a heel, but slowly, without that deftness with which Pan Jzef worked.
More Tales by Polish Authors | VariousA clock maker of Connecticut secured waste material for making clock boxes from the planing mill of a New York lumber company.
Our National Forests | Richard H. Douai BoerkerEbonite is best worked as if it were brass, with ordinary brass-turning or planing tools.
On Laboratory Arts | Richard ThrelfallA small block of wood is inserted to act as a stop whilst the planing operation is in progress.
Woodwork Joints | William Fairham
British Dictionary definitions for plane (1 of 3)
/ (pleɪn) /
maths a flat surface in which a straight line joining any two of its points lies entirely on that surface
a flat or level surface
a level of existence, performance, attainment, etc
short for aeroplane
a wing or supporting surface of an aircraft or hydroplane
level or flat
maths (of a curve, figure, etc) lying entirely in one plane
to fly without moving wings or using engines; glide
(of a boat) to rise partly and skim over the water when moving at a certain speed
to travel by aeroplane
Origin of plane
1Derived forms of plane
- planeness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for plane (2 of 3)
/ (pleɪn) /
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
a flat tool, usually metal, for smoothing the surface of clay or plaster in a mould
to level, smooth, or cut (timber, wooden articles, etc) using a plane or similar tool
(often foll by off) to remove using a plane
Origin of plane
2British Dictionary definitions for plane (3 of 3)
/ (pleɪn) /
See plane tree
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for plane
[ plān ]
A two-dimensional surface, any two of whose points can be joined by a straight line that lies entirely in the surface.
Lying in a plane:a plane curve.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for plane
A geometrical location having only two dimensions — length and width (no height). (See coordinates and plane geometry.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse