# plank

/ˈpɫæŋk/ (US) · /plˈæŋk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plank
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. piece of wood

noun · CEFR B2

a long, flat, thick piece of wood used for building things like floors or fences.

For teachers: a long, broad, and thick piece of timber, typically sturdier than a standard board.

- The workers laid down heavy wooden planks to create a temporary path across the mud.
- The carpenter selected seasoned oak planks for the flooring to ensure the surface would not warp over time.

### 2. exercise

noun · CEFR B2

an exercise where you hold your body straight and still while balancing on your hands or arms.

For teachers: an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a position similar to a push-up for the maximum possible time.

- She held a plank for two minutes as part of her morning workout.
- Incorporating a three-minute plank into your daily routine can significantly improve core stability and posture.

### 3. political policy

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

one of the main points or ideas in a political party's plan.

For teachers: a fundamental component of a political platform or a specific policy within a party's programme.

- Improving the healthcare system was a central plank of their election campaign.
- The proposed tax reform served as the primary plank of the opposition's economic strategy during the televised debate.

### 4. stupid person

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Slang

a person who is very silly or not very smart.

For teachers: a slang term for a person perceived as stupid or dim-witted.

- He forgot his keys for the third time this week—what a plank.
- I felt like a total plank when I realized I had been arguing against a point that everyone else had already agreed on.

### 5. to pose rigidly

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to lie flat and stiff like a board in a strange place for a photo.

For teachers: to perform the act of lying face down with a stiff body in an unusual or public location as a stunt.

- A few years ago, it was a popular trend to plank on top of famous statues.
- The fad of planking in precarious locations eventually faded after several high-profile incidents involving public safety.

## Examples

- He used a thick plank to repair the garden fence.
- The carpenter carefully measured each plank before cutting it to fit the new floor frame.
- The political platform was built upon a central plank of tax reform, which the candidate argued would stimulate growth across the manufacturing sector.

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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.