aeroplane

[air-uh-pleyn]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. airplane.

aeroplane

/ ˈɛərəˌpleɪn, ˈɛəˌpleɪn /

noun

1. a heavier-than-air powered flying vehicle with fixed wings

Word History and Origins

Origin of aeroplane¹

1870–75; < French aéroplane, equivalent to aéro- aero- + -plane, apparently feminine of plan flat, level (< Latin plānus; plain ¹ ), perhaps by association with forme plane; apparently coined and first used by French sculptor and inventor Joseph Pline in 1855

Word History and Origins

Origin of aeroplane¹

C19: from French aéroplane, from _aero- + Greek -planos wandering, related to _planet

Related Words

• aircraft 
• airliner 
• cab 
• jet 
• plane 
• ship