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

Example Sentences

It wasn't long before paper aeroplanes were being thrown onto the pitch by bored fans.

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He says: "I thought about it, I spoke to the wife and said do you mind if I go and play on an aeroplane? That was four years ago."

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Cloud seeding is the practice of using aeroplanes to fire salt or other chemicals into clouds to induce rain.

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The European Union's top court ruled Thursday that a dog travelling in an aeroplane's cargo hold counts as baggage, meaning airlines are not required to pay higher compensation if the animal is lost.

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Some fans threw paper aeroplanes on the pitch, an occurrence that has happened in recent years when England fans have been bored.

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Related Words

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