plane table

noun

: an instrument consisting essentially of a drawing board on a tripod with a ruler pointed at the object observed and used for plotting the lines of a survey directly from observation

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of plane table was in 1670

Dictionary Entries Near plane table

Cite this Entry

“Plane table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plane%20table. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on plane table

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!