planer

American  

[pley-ner] / ˈpleɪ nər /

noun

1. Carpentry. a power machine for removing the rough or excess surface from a board.

2. Metalworking. a machine for cutting flat surfaces, having a cutting tool supported by an overhead frame beneath which the work slides back and forth.

3. Typesetting. a block of smooth, hard wood for leveling the type in a chase by tapping with a mallet.

---

planer British  

/ ˈpleɪnə /

noun

1. a machine with a cutting tool that makes repeated horizontal strokes across the surface of a workpiece: used to cut flat surfaces into metal

2. a machine for planing wood, esp one in which the cutting blades are mounted on a rotating drum

3. printing a flat piece of wood used to level type in a chase

4. any person or thing that planes

---

Etymology

Origin of planer

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at plane ², -er ¹

Example Sentences

At minimum, you’d need a table saw, which allows you to cut wood to width, as well as a planer and jointer, used to create smooth, even surfaces on wood.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024

Next, remove any excess wax on the exterior with a cheese planer or knife.

From Salon • Nov. 5, 2022

He says recent upgrades to the hydro's capacity have enabled the community to invest in an electric sawmill, an electric timber-drying kiln and an electric planer.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2022

Multiple witnesses said the fire appeared to have spread to homes after starting at or near the planer building.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2022

We have before, in the chapter on metal-working, shown the importance of the slide-rest, planer and lathe, when combined, and which also are extensively adapted to wood-working.

From Inventions in the Century by Doolittle, William Henry