plan

noun

a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance: battle plans.

a design or scheme of arrangement: an elaborate plan for seating guests.

a specific project or definite purpose: plans for the future.

Also called plan view. a drawing made to scale to represent the top view or a horizontal section of a structure or a machine, as a floor layout of a building.

a representation of a thing drawn on a plane, as a map or diagram: a plan of the dock area.

(in perspective drawing) one of several planes in front of a represented object, and perpendicular to the line between the object and the eye.

a formal program for specified benefits, needs, etc.: a pension plan.

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verb (used with object)

to arrange a method or scheme beforehand for (any work, enterprise, or proceeding): to plan a new recreation center.

to make plans for: to plan one's vacation.

10.

to draw or make a diagram or layout of, as a building.

00:10

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to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.

to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.

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verb (used without object)

11.

to make plans: to plan ahead; to plan for one's retirement.

Origin:
1670–80; < French: ground, plan, groundwork, scheme, noun use of the adj.: flat, plane¹, learned borrowing of Latin plānus level (cf. plain¹)

Related forms

plan·less, adjective

plan·less·ly, adverb

plan·less·ness, noun

mis·plan, verb, mis·planned, mis·plan·ning.

out·plan, verb (used with object), out·planned, out·plan·ning.

o·ver·plan, verb, o·ver·planned, o·ver·plan·ning.

pre·plan, verb, pre·planned, pre·plan·ning.

re·plan, verb (used with object), re·planned, re·plan·ning.

un·der·plan, noun

un·der·plan, verb (used with object), un·der·planned, un·der·plan·ning.

un·plan, verb (used with object), un·planned, un·plan·ning.

well-planned, adjective

Can be confused: plain, plan, plane (see synonym study at the current entry).

Synonyms
1. plot, formula, system. Plan, project, design, scheme imply a formulated method of doing something. Plan refers to any method of thinking out acts and purposes beforehand: What are your plans for today? A project is a proposed or tentative plan, often elaborate or extensive: an irrigation project. Design suggests art, dexterity, or craft (sometimes evil and selfish) in the elaboration or execution of a plan, and often tends to emphasize the purpose in view: a misunderstanding brought about by design. A scheme is apt to be either a speculative, possibly impracticable, plan, or a selfish or dishonest one: a scheme to swindle someone. 4. sketch, draft, diagram, chart. 8. design, devise, plot.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

variant of plano-¹. before a vowel: planate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To plan

Collins

World English Dictionary

plan (plæn)

—n
1.	a detailed scheme, method, etc, for attaining an objective
2.	(sometimes plural) a proposed, usually tentative idea for doing something
3.	ground plan Compare elevation a drawing to scale of a horizontal section through a building taken at a given level; a view from above an object or an area in orthographic projection
4.	an outline, sketch, etc
5.	(in perspective drawing) any of several imaginary planes perpendicular to the line of vision and between the eye and object depicted

—vb , plans, planning, planned
6.	to form a plan (for) or make plans (for)
7.	(tr) to make a plan of (a building)
8.	(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to have in mind as a purpose; intend

[C18: via French from Latin plānus flat; compare plane¹, plain¹]

plano- or (sometimes before a vowel) plan-

—*combining form*
	indicating flatness or planeness: plano-concave

[from Latin plānus flat, level]

plan- or (sometimes before a vowel) plan-

—*combining form*

[from Latin plānus flat, level]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

plan

1678, "drawing, sketch, or diagram of any object," from Fr. plan "ground plan, map," lit. "plane surface" (1553), from L. planum "level or flat surface," n. use of adj. planus "level, flat" (see plane (1)). The notion is of "a drawing on a flat surface." Meaning "scheme of

action, design" is first recorded 1706, possibly infl. by Fr. planter "to plant," from It. planta "ground plan." The verb is first recorded 1728. Planned economy is attested from 1931. Planned Parenthood (1942) formerly was Birth Control Federation of America. Phrase planned obsolescence is attested from 1966. Planner "book or device that enables one to plan" is attested from 1971.

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