plank

American  

[plangk] / plæŋk /

noun

1. a long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a board.

2. lumber in such pieces; planking.

3. something to stand on or to cling to for support.

4. any one of the stated principles or objectives comprising the political platform of a party campaigning for election.

   They fought for a plank supporting a nuclear freeze.

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verb (used with object)

1. to lay, cover, or furnish with planks.

2. to bake or broil and serve (steak, fish, chicken, etc.) on a wooden board.

3. plunk.

idioms

1. walk the plank,

   1. to be forced, as by pirates, to walk to one's death by stepping off a plank extending from the ship's side over the water.

   2. to relinquish something, as a position, office, etc., under compulsion.

      We suspect that the new vice-president walked the plank because of a personality clash.

plank ¹ British  

/ 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. to be forced by pirates to walk to one's death off the end of a plank jutting out over the water from the side of a ship

5. slang a stupid person; idiot

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verb

1. to cover or provide (an area) with planks

2. to beat (meat) to make it tender

3. to cook or serve (meat or fish) on a special wooden board

plank ² British  

/ plæŋk /

verb

1. (tr) to hide; cache

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plank More Idioms  

1. see walk the plank.

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Other Word Forms

• plankless adjective
• planklike adjective
• unplanked adjective

Etymology

Origin of plank

1275–1325; Middle English planke < Old North French < Latin planca board, plank. See planch

Example Sentences

Eventual de-escalation is the central plank in the Barclays’ investment case.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

A fresh scientific investigation of the Hjortspring boat, an ancient wooden plank vessel displayed at the National Museum of Denmark, is shedding new light on where it may have come from.

From Science Daily • Feb. 16, 2026

But the most important plank in his platform is economic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

Article 28, the plan’s final plank, states, “Once all parties accept this memorandum, a ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides withdraw to the agreed points for the start of the agreement’s implementation.”

From Slate • Nov. 21, 2025

“Ten routines on beam,” Aimee said, adjusting a foam mat at one end of the padded, four-inch-wide plank of suede-covered wood.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Related Words

• lumber
• platform
• slab
• timber