airplane

[air-pleyn]

noun

1. a heavier-than-air aircraft kept aloft by the upward thrust exerted by the passing air on its fixed wings and driven by propellers, jet propulsion, etc.

2. any similar heavier-than-air aircraft, as a glider or helicopter.

airplane

/ ˈɛəˌpleɪn /

noun

1. Also called: aeroplane. a heavier-than-air powered flying vehicle with fixed wings

Other Word Forms

• proairplane adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of airplane¹

1870–75, for an earlier sense; alteration of aeroplane, with air ¹ replacing aero-

Example Sentences

But he does outrace a pack of motorcycles and an airplane.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Certain related parts would have been due for inspection after more than 28,000 flights, but the airplane had flown about 21,000 flights at the time of the crash.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In Griffith, Q-CTRL engineers tested three magnetometers in different locations on the airplane, given that the external interference in each spot is different.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

More than 45 percent of women worked outside the home during the war, producing ammunition, building ships and airplanes, driving trains, and nursing the wounded.

Read more on Literature

Erivo is a major talent with lungs like twin airplane engines and a screen presence of pure steel.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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