ENGLISH
REFERENCE

plane

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈpɫeɪn// UK //plˈeɪn// plane
  1. 1 aircraft (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a vehicle with wings that flies through the air.

    a powered fixed-wing aircraft; a shortened form of airplane or aeroplane.

    Example

    The plane took off on time and reached London two hours later.

    Example

    The cargo plane circled the airfield for twenty minutes before receiving clearance to land on the secondary runway.
  2. 2 flat surface (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Math

    a flat or level surface, especially in mathematics.

    a flat surface on which a straight line joining any two points on it would wholly lie.

    Example

    The graph shows how the points move across a horizontal plane.

    Example

    The architect's drawing represented the building's facade as a series of intersecting vertical planes that created a sense of depth.
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  1. 3 level of existence (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a particular level of thought, existence, or development.

    a level of existence, consciousness, or development, often used in philosophical or spiritual contexts.

    Example

    The two scientists were debating on a completely different intellectual plane.

    Example

    The composer claimed that his latest symphony was intended to transport the listener to a higher spiritual plane through its complex harmonies.
  2. 4 woodworking tool (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a tool with a blade used to make wood surfaces smooth.

    a tool used for smoothing or shaping wood by shaving thin layers from the surface.

    Example

    He used a hand plane to smooth the rough edges of the wooden table.

    Example

    The carpenter adjusted the blade of his block plane to ensure the shavings were thin enough to leave a glass-like finish on the oak.
  3. 5 type of tree (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a large tree with broad leaves and bark that peels off in patches.

    any of several large trees of the genus Platanus, characterized by maple-like leaves and exfoliating bark.

    Example

    The street was lined with old plane trees that provided plenty of shade.

    Example

    London plane trees are particularly valued in urban environments for their ability to thrive despite high levels of air pollution.
    • sycamore
  4. 6 to smooth wood (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    to make a piece of wood smooth using a special tool.

    to smooth or level a wooden surface using a plane tool. Transitive — takes the wood as its object.

    Example

    You need to plane the bottom of the door so it doesn't rub on the carpet.

    Example

    After the timber had dried sufficiently, the craftsman began to plane the boards to a uniform thickness for the cabinet doors.
    • roughen
  5. 7 to skim over water (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Nautical

    to move fast enough in a boat that the front lifts out of the water.

    to move over the surface of water at high speed, such that the hull is supported by hydrodynamic lift rather than buoyancy.

    Example

    The small motorboat began to plane as it gained speed across the lake.

    Example

    The hull was specifically designed to plane at lower speeds, significantly reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency during coastal transit.
  6. 8 flat (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Math

    completely flat or level.

    relating to or being a flat surface; two-dimensional in nature.

    Example

    The teacher asked us to calculate the area of a plane figure.

    Example

    The study of plane geometry focuses on the properties of shapes that exist within a single, flat dimension.
Etymology 1

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂-? Proto-Indo-European *pel-? Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-no-s Proto-Italic *plānos Latin plānus Latin plānumder. English plane From Latin plānum (“flat surface”), a noun use of the neuter of plānus (“plain”). The word was introduced in the 17th century to distinguish the geometrical senses from the other senses of plain. Doublet of llano, piano, and plain.

Etymology 2

From Middle English plane, plaine, from Anglo-Norman plaine, from Late Latin plāna (“planing tool”).

Etymology 3

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr) Ancient Greek πλανάω (planáō) Ancient Greek πλάνος (plános) Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ερόπλᾰνος (āeróplănos)der. French aéroplanebor. English aeroplaneclip. English plane Clipping of aeroplane.

Etymology 4

From Middle English plane, borrowed from Old French plane, from Latin platanus, from Ancient Greek πλάτανος (plátanos), from πλατύς (platús, “wide, broad”).

Idioms2 entries

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