noun

plane

playn

noun

An aircraft; an airplane.

"Our plane landed twenty minutes early."

"She was nervous during takeoff, as she always is on a plane."

A completely flat surface, especially in mathematics or physics.

"Two points define a line, but three define a plane."

A tool used to shave thin layers off wood to smooth or shape it.

"He ran the plane along the edge of the door to make it fit."

adj

Completely flat or level.

"The surveyor confirmed the ground was plane enough to build on."

How to Use Plane

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly an airplane, but also a flat mathematical surface or a woodworking tool.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "plain" (simple, or flat land) — they're pronounced the same but spelled and used differently.

Easily confused with

plain →

Common pairings

catch a plane plane surface wood plane

Word Forms

planer comparative, planed past tense, planed past tense, planes plural, planes plural, planes plural, planes plural, planes singular, planes singular, planest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Our _____ landed twenty minutes early.

Etymology

From Latin planum, "flat surface," a noun derived from planus, "flat, level" — introduced in the 1600s to separate the geometric sense from the older word "plain," which it's a doublet of.

Rhymes for plane

cane lane Dane mane vane pane bane sane wane Jane fane Zane

See all rhymes for plane →