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

When they designed a table using a plank with a natural gap, they left the gap in the center, which helped them get the right width and refine its shape.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

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

Even Hegseth must realize that the more hard-line military court would likely dismiss a case based on a video in which Kelly recites a fundamental plank of military law.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

First, I did up my breakfast things, then scrubbed the plank floor.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• lumber
• platform
• slab
• timber