# airplane

/ˈɛɹˌpɫeɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/airplane
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. flying vehicle

noun · CEFR A1 · American English

a vehicle with wings and an engine that flies through the air.

For teachers: a powered, fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air.

- The airplane took off from the runway and disappeared into the clouds.
- Modern airplane design focuses heavily on fuel efficiency and the reduction of carbon emissions during long-haul flights.

Usage: In British English, the spelling 'aeroplane' is used instead.

### 2. feeding game

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a game where you pretend a spoon of food is a plane to help a child eat.

For teachers: a feeding technique where a caregiver mimics the flight of an aircraft with a spoon to encourage a child to open their mouth.

- He made a buzzing sound and played airplane to get the baby to eat her peas.
- Exasperated by the toddler's refusal to eat, the father resorted to playing airplane with the mashed carrots.

### 3. to travel by air

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

to travel or fly somewhere using a plane.

For teachers: to travel via aircraft or to transport goods using an aviation service.

- The company decided to airplane the emergency supplies to the island.
- The delegates chose to airplane across the continent rather than endure the three-day train journey.

Usage: This verb use is less common than the noun; 'fly' is preferred in most contexts.

## Examples

- The airplane lands safely at the airport.
- We watched the airplane take off from the runway and disappear into the clouds.
- Modern airplane design focuses heavily on fuel efficiency and noise reduction to meet increasingly strict international environmental standards.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.