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, plan·ing.

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. 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, plan·ing.

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 or off ).

verb (used without object)

, planed, plan·ing.

1. to work with a plane.
2. to function as a plane.

plane

³

[ pleyn ]

noun

1. plane tree.

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

/ plān /

Noun

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

Adjective

1. Lying in a plane:

plane

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

Derived Forms

• ˈplaneness, noun

Other Words From

• planeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plane¹

First recorded in 1400–50 plane ¹( fordef 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( indef 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 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

Origin of plane³

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)

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

In this case, given that we are all flying on the plane that Trump will soon be piloting, there’s not much to do but hope that he sees the inherent genius in restraint.

From Slate

A small plane crash-landed in Sherman Oaks on Thursday morning, landing upside-down in a field, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

The flight of the single-engine four-seat plane lasted a mere five minutes and eight miles, according to data from Flight Aware.

From Los Angeles Times

The plane had flown safely on Wednesday and Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, Mr Hunter was revealed as the private citizen who paid for the plane flying Alex Salmond's body home from North Macedonia.

From BBC