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n. 1. Mathematics A surface containing all the straight lines that connect any two points on it. 2. A flat or level surface. 3. A level of development, existence, or achievement: scholarship on a high plane. 4. An airplane or hydroplane. 5. A supporting surface of an airplane; an airfoil or wing. adj. 1. Mathematics Of or being a figure lying in a plane: a plane curve. 2. Flat; level. See Synonyms at level. [Latin plānum, flat surface, from neuter of plānus, flat; see pelə-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. N., sense 4, short for AEROPLANE.] planeness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. 1. A carpenter's tool with an adjustable blade for smoothing and leveling wood. 2. A trowel-shaped tool for smoothing the surface of clay, sand, or plaster in a mold. v. planed, plan·ing, planes v.tr. 1. To smooth or finish with a plane: planed the door. 2. To remove with a plane: plane off the rough edges on a board. v.intr. To work with a plane. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin plāna, from plānāre, to plane, from plānus, flat; see pelə-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) plane2carpentry plane |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
intr.v. planed, plan·ing, planes 1. To rise partly out of the water, as a hydroplane does at high speeds. 2. To soar or glide. 3. To travel by airplane. [Middle English planen, to glide, soar, from Old French planer, from plain, flat, level; see PLAIN.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. The plane tree. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin platanus, from Greek platanos, perhaps from platus, broad; see plat- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
