plane

¹

[pleyn]

noun

1. a flat or level surface.

2. Geometry.,  a surface generated by a straight line moving at a constant velocity with respect to a fixed point.

3. Fine Arts.,  an area of a two-dimensional surface having determinate extension and spatial direction or position.

   oblique plane; horizontal plane.

4. a level of dignity, character, existence, development, or the like.

   a high moral plane.

   Synonyms: stage, stratum

5. Aeronautics.

   1. an airplane or a hydroplane.

      to take a plane to Dallas.

   2. a thin, flat or curved, extended section of an airplane or a hydroplane, affording a supporting surface.

6. Architecture.,  a longitudinal section through the axis of a column.

adjective

1. flat or level, as a surface.

   Synonyms: flush, even, smooth

2. of or relating to planes or plane figures.

verb (used without object)

planed, planing 

1. to glide or soar.

2. (of a boat) to rise partly out of the water when moving at high speed.

3. Informal.,  to fly or travel in an airplane.

   We'll drive to Detroit and plane to Los Angeles.

plane

²

[pleyn]

noun

1. plane tree.

plane

³

[pleyn]

noun

1. 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.

2. a trowellike tool for smoothing the surface of clay in a brick mold.

verb (used with object)

planed, planing 

1. to smooth or dress with or as if with a plane or a planer.

2. to remove by or as if by means of a plane (usually followed by away oroff ).

verb (used without object)

planed, planing 

1. to work with a plane.

2. to function as a plane.

plane

¹

/ pleɪn /

noun

1. maths 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. 1. short for aeroplane

   2. a wing or supporting surface of an aircraft or hydroplane

adjective

1. level or flat

2. maths (of a curve, figure, etc) lying entirely in one plane

verb

1. to fly without moving wings or using engines; glide

2. (of a boat) to rise partly and skim over the water when moving at a certain speed

3. to travel by aeroplane

plane

²

/ pleɪn /

noun

1. See plane tree

plane

³

/ 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

1. to level, smooth, or cut (timber, wooden articles, etc) using a plane or similar tool

2. (often foll by off) to remove using a plane

plane

1. A two-dimensional surface, any two of whose points can be joined by a straight line that lies entirely in the surface.

1. Lying in a plane:

plane

1. A geometrical location having only two dimensions — length and width (no height). (See coordinates and plane geometry.)

Other Word Forms

• planeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plane¹

First recorded in 1400–50 plane ¹ ( for def. 9 ) (in the sense “to soar”); 1640–50 for noun and adjective senses; (noun) from Latin plānum “flat surface” (noun use of plānus “flat”); (adjective) from Latin plānus; first used to distinguish the geometrical senses formerly belonging to plain ¹; plane ¹ ( in def. 5 ), shortened form of airplane, aeroplane, or hydroplane; (verb) late Middle English planen “(of a bird) to soar” (compare Middle French planer ); akin to plain ¹

Origin of plane²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English plane, plaine, from Middle French plane, Old French pleine, plane, from Latin platanus, from Greek plátanos, derivative of platýs “wide, broad, flat” (with reference to the leaves)

Origin of plane³

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English noun plane, plaine, pleine, from Middle French plan(n)e, Old French plaine, plane or directly from Late Latin plāna “plane, adze,” derivative of plānāre “to smooth,” itself derivative of Latin plānus plain ¹; Middle English verb plane(n), plaine, pleine, from Middle French planer or directly from Late Latin plānāre

Word History and Origins

Origin of plane¹

C17: from Latin plānum level surface

Origin of plane²

C14: via Old French from Late Latin plāna plane, from plānāre to level

Example Sentences

Two months later, she was put on a plane with her 8-year-old son, who just completed second grade.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The sole survivor of the Air India plane crash, which killed 241 people on board, has said he feels like the "luckiest man" alive, but is also suffering physically and mentally.

Read more on BBC

Two-mile runway can accommodate military transport planes, surveillance aircraft and jet fighters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The small plane crashed on the runway and the pilot, who was from the Leeds area, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Read more on BBC

On other key issues, Beijing will now pause export controls it brought in last month on rare earth minerals - vital in the production of cars, planes and weapons - for a year.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• airplane 
• craft 
• jet 
• ship 

When To Use

What does plane mean?

In geometry, a plane  is a flat, two-dimensional surface with an infinite height and width. It’s one of the basic concepts of geometry.Think of a flat sheet of paper. A physical sheet of paper has three dimensions: length, width, and (a small) height. If that sheet of paper had zero height and its length and width extended forever, it would be a plane. Obviously, such a shape is theoretical—it’s used as a basis for geometric calculations.A plane is one of several basic concepts students need to begin to understand geometry. Another is a point. Unlike a plane, it has no dimensions, such as length or width. It is found by using coordinates. A third concept is a line. Like a plane, a line also extends forever but only in two directions.Understanding what a plane is matters because angles and two-dimensional shapes, such as squares, triangles, and circles, are represented as points, lines, and line segments on a plane. It also helps you understand three-dimensional space and three-dimensional objects, which have height as well as length and width. Plane has several other meanings, some of which have different roots. More generally, it can refer to any flat or level surface.