plane

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈplān 

1

a

[by shortening] : airplane

b

: one of the main supporting surfaces of an airplane

2

a

: a surface in which if any two points are chosen a straight line joining them lies wholly in that surface

b

: a flat or level surface

3

: a level of existence, consciousness, or development

on the intellectual plane

plane

2 of 6

verb (1)

planed; planing

transitive verb

1

a

: to make smooth or even : level

b

: to make smooth or even by use of a plane

2

: to remove by or as if by planing

—often used with away or off

intransitive verb

1

: to work with a plane

2

: to do the work of a plane

planer noun

plane

3 of 6

noun (2)

: a tool for smoothing or shaping a wood surface

Illustration of plane

• ³plane

plane

4 of 6

noun (3)

: any of a genus (Platanus of the family Platanaceae, the plane-tree family) of chiefly deciduous trees with large palmately lobed leaves, flowers in globose heads, and usually scaling bark

called also buttonwood, plane tree, sycamore

plane

5 of 6

verb (2)

planed; planing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to fly while keeping the wings motionless

b

: to skim across the surface of the water

2

: to travel by airplane

plane

6 of 6

adjective

1

: having no elevations or depressions : flat

2

a

: of, relating to, or dealing with geometric planes

b

: lying in a plane

a plane curve

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• aeroplane [chiefly British]
• airplane

Verb (1)

• even
• flatten
• level
• smooth
• smoothen

Verb (2)

• aviate
• fly
• glide
• soar
• wing

Adjective

• even
• flat
• flush
• level
• smooth

Choose the Right Synonym for plane

level, flat, plane, even, smooth mean having a surface without bends, curves, or irregularities.

level applies to a horizontal surface that lies on a line parallel with the horizon.

the vast prairies are nearly level

flat applies to a surface devoid of noticeable curvatures, prominences, or depressions.

the work surface must be flat

plane applies to any real or imaginary flat surface in which a straight line between any two points on it lies wholly within that surface.

the plane sides of a crystal

even applies to a surface that is noticeably flat or level or to a line that is observably straight.

trim the hedge so it is even

smooth applies especially to a polished surface free of irregularities.

a smooth skating rink

Examples of plane in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a plane flew overhead

Verb (1)

planed the wood for the picnic table perfectly smooth so that no one would get splinters

Verb (2)

an eagle planed effortlessly overhead, gliding on an air current

Adjective

you can do these tracings on any plane surface

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unanswered questions after Delta plane crash Investigators are working to identify why a Delta Air Lines regional jet coming from Minnesota flipped on its roof during landing at Canada's Toronto Pearson International Airport. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Fatal crashes are rare in the U.S. and travel by plane is statistically safer than any other form of transit. —Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025

Verb

Erect blackberries like 'Navaho' can be planed in traditional rows or grown as a hedge. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025

Lionsgate has several festivities planed including special events, anniversary screenings, new experiences, and new collectible merchandise, culminating in the release of Ballerina: From the World of John Wick next year on June 6. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Plus this episode also delivers peak unhinged Lex while he's stranded on an island post-plane crash and suffering from malaria, which leads to a moment that teases his natural killer instincts that he's kept so well hidden from Clark, and the world, so far. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2021

But those cars were powered by pushrod engines with conventional cross-plane cranks. —Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 2 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin planum, from neuter of planus level

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French planer, from Late Latin planare, from Latin planus level — more at floor

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin plana, from planare

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin platanus, from Greek platanos; probably akin to Greek platys broad — more at place

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Middle French planer, from plain level, plain

Adjective

Latin planus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plane

• aerospace plane
• block plane
• Cartesian plane
• complex plane
• equatorial plane
• focal plane
• half plane
• inclined plane
• jack plane
• London plane
• plane angle
• plane geometry
• plane of polarization
• plane-polarized
• plane table
• pontoon plane
• pursuit plane
• rocket plane
• tangent plane

Kids Definition

plane

1 of 5 verb

ˈplān 

planed; planing

1

: to make smooth or level especially with a plane

2

: to remove by planing

—often used with away or off

planer noun

plane

2 of 5 noun

: a tool for smoothing or shaping wood

plane

3 of 5 noun

1

a

: a surface in which a straight line joining any two points on the surface also lies completely on the surface

b

: a flat or level surface

2

: a level of existence or development

on the intellectual plane

3

a

: one of the main supporting surfaces of an airplane

b

: airplane

plane

4 of 5 adjective

1

: having no elevations or depressions : flat

2

a

: of, relating to, or dealing with planes

plane geometry

b

: lying within a plane

a plane curve

plane

5 of 5 verb

planed; planing

1

: to fly while keeping the wings still

2

: to travel by airplane

Etymology

Verb

Middle English planen "to make smooth or level," from early French planer (same meaning), derived from Latin planus "level" — related to plain entry 1

Adjective

from Latin planus "level"

Verb

from French planer "to fly while keeping the wings motionless," from plain "level, plain"; so called from the fact that the wings of a soaring bird form a level surface

Medical Definition

plane

noun

ˈplān 

1

a

: a surface that contains at least three points not all in a straight line and is such that a line drawn through any two points in it lies wholly in the surface

b

: an imaginary plane used to identify parts of the body or a part of the skull see frankfort horizontal plane, midsagittal plane

2

: a stage in surgical anesthesia

a light plane of anesthesia is maintained with cyclopropane

—The Journal of the American Medical Association