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

Other Words From

• pro·airplane adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of airplane¹

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

Example Sentences

The speaker of the House, the man second in line to the presidency — Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana — had to photobomb the much-shared shot taken aboard the so-called Trump Force One airplane last weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has said there's no price tag so there is already a tremendous amount of activity taking place in the private sector, with private prison and airplane businesses gearing up for some major government contracts.

From Salon

To use lidar, scientists fly an airplane over the area they want to study.

From NewsForKids.net

Koji Murata, one of the scientists behind the project, points out that in the early 1900s, “airplanes were made of wood.”

From NewsForKids.net

“The airplane seat — that’s a bummer for the person who sits there next,” she said in the follow-up video.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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