View synonyms for plane

plane

[ pleyn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a flat or level surface.
Geometry. a surface generated by a straight line moving at a constant velocity with respect to a fixed point.
Fine Arts. an area of a two-dimensional surface having determinate extension and spatial direction or position:
oblique plane; horizontal plane.
a level of dignity, character, existence, development, or the like:
a high moral plane.
Synonyms: stage, stratum
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.
Architecture. a longitudinal section through the axis of a column.

adjective

flat or level, as a surface.
Synonyms: flush, even, smooth
of or relating to planes or plane figures.

verb (used without object)

, planed, plan·ing.

to glide or soar.
(of a boat) to rise partly out of the water when moving at high speed.
Informal. to fly or travel in an airplane:
We'll drive to Detroit and plane to Los Angeles.

plane

[ pleyn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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.
a trowellike tool for smoothing the surface of clay in a brick mold.

verb (used with object)

, planed, plan·ing.

to smooth or dress with or as if with a plane or a planer.
to remove by or as if by means of a plane (usually followed by away or off ).

verb (used without object)

, planed, plan·ing.

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

plane

[ pleyn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plane tree.

plane

/ pleɪn /

noun

maths a flat surface in which a straight line joining any two of its points lies entirely on that surface
a flat or level surface
a level of existence, performance, attainment, etc
1. short for aeroplane
2. a wing or supporting surface of an aircraft or hydroplane

adjective

level or flat
maths (of a curve, figure, etc) lying entirely in one plane

verb

to fly without moving wings or using engines; glide
(of a boat) to rise partly and skim over the water when moving at a certain speed
to travel by aeroplane

plane

/ pleɪn /

noun

See plane tree

plane

/ pleɪn /

noun

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
a flat tool, usually metal, for smoothing the surface of clay or plaster in a mould

verb

to level, smooth, or cut (timber, wooden articles, etc) using a plane or similar tool
often foll by off to remove using a plane

plane

/ plān /

Noun

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

Adjective

Lying in a plane:

plane

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

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Derived Forms

ˈplaneness, noun

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Other Words From

planeness noun

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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)

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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

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Example Sentences

Chérif was arrested in Paris in January 2005 as he was about to board a plane to Damascus along with a man named Thamer Bouchnak.

From The Daily Beast

As we waited for my plane to come in, we stayed silent for a long time.

From The Daily Beast

And then I got on a plane, and guess what was playing: I Never Sang for My Father.

From The Daily Beast

“Call me when the plane leaves the ground,” she said, in a tone that implied she knew her husband well.

From The Daily Beast

On Monday, Soelistyo had jolted relatives as well as searchers by suggesting that the plane could be “at the bottom of the sea.”

From The Daily Beast

The sequestered spot, a seat beneath a plane tree, with a lonesome arc-lamp shining full upon it, was occupied.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence the latter is not level, but has, in places, steps which have been worn to an inclined plane.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore the families were strong, united, sound, resisting the storm like a line of plane trees!

From Project Gutenberg

Then he shaved this side of the block, then the other side, with a plane, a tool with a very sharp edge.

From Project Gutenberg

Here was another plane of existence where the machinations of men seemed to matter little.

From Project Gutenberg

Planck's radiation law plane angle

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