plane
plane
Pronunciation
/pleɪn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in its single syllable:
/p/: voiceless bilabial plosive
/l/: voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/eɪ/: diphthong (as in "day" or "say")
/n/: voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
I. As a Noun
Singular:
plane (referring to an aircraft: "I caught the next plane to Dublin.")
plane (referring to a flat surface in geometry or general: "the horizontal plane," "the plane of the table.")
plane (referring to a woodworking tool: "He used a plane to smooth the wood.")
plane (referring to a level of existence or thought: "living on a higher plane.")
plane (referring to a type of tree, often called a "plane tree" or "London plane"): "The old plane tree shaded the street."
Plural:
planes (for aircraft, flat surfaces, tools, levels of existence)
plane trees (for the type of tree)
II. As a Verb
The verb "plane" generally refers to making something smooth or flat with a tool, or to gliding/flying without moving wings. It's a regular verb.
Base Form (Infinitive): to plane
Present Simple:
I/you/we/they plane
he/she/it planes
Present Participle: planing
Past Simple: planed
Past Participle: planed
III. As an Adjective
Base Form: plane (meaning completely flat or level, often in a specialist or geometrical context: "a plane surface," "plane geometry")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition (Aircraft): A powered flying vehicle with fixed wings that generates lift by the forward motion of air over the wings, designed for carrying passengers or cargo through the air.
Synonyms: aircraft, airplane (US), aeroplane (UK), jet, airliner (for passenger planes), glider (for unpowered planes)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a type of vehicle. One might contrast it with other modes of transport: car, train, ship.)
Definition (Flat Surface): A perfectly flat, two-dimensional surface that extends infinitely in all directions, or a flat, level surface in a more general sense.
Synonyms: surface, flat, level, sheet, face (of a geometric solid)
Antonyms: curve, sphere, undulation, mound, protuberance
Definition (Woodworking Tool): A hand tool or power tool with a sharp blade projecting from its underside, used for smoothing, shaping, or reducing the thickness of wood surfaces by shaving off thin layers.
Synonyms: planer, jointer (larger, stationary machine)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific tool. One might contrast it with tools that add material or make rough cuts: saw, chisel, sander.)
Definition (Level of Existence/Thought): A particular level, degree, or state of existence, thought, or development.
Synonyms: level, stratum, sphere, dimension, realm, state, condition
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a relative state. One might contrast "higher plane" with "lower plane" or "mundane plane" with "spiritual plane.")
Definition (Tree): A large, deciduous tree (typically of the genus Platanus) known for its mottled bark and often planted in urban areas for shade.
Synonyms: plane tree, sycamore (in some contexts, though "sycamore" can also refer to different trees)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a type of tree. One might contrast it with other tree types: oak, maple, pine.)
Verb
Definition (Smooth/Shape Wood): To smooth, flatten, or shape a surface (especially wood) by cutting away thin shavings with a plane tool.
Synonyms: smooth, flatten, shave, pare, level, surface
Antonyms: roughen, groove, gouge, score
Definition (Glide/Fly): To glide or fly smoothly and steadily, often without the aid of an engine or with minimal effort, like a bird or glider.
Synonyms: glide, soar, float, drift, skim
Antonyms: plummet, dive, fall, drop, ascend (when actively powered)
Adjective
Definition (Flat/Level): Perfectly flat and level, without any curves, bumps, or irregularities; often used in a technical or geometric context.
Synonyms: flat, level, even, flush, smooth, planar (technical)
Antonyms: curved, bumpy, uneven, undulating, spherical, irregular
Examples of Use
Books:
"He heard the distant drone of a plane as he looked up at the vast, cloudless sky, wondering about its destination." (From a work of fiction, illustrating "plane" as aircraft)
"In Euclidean geometry, a plane is a flat, two-dimensional surface that extends infinitely far." (From a mathematics textbook)
Newspapers:
"The government announced plans to invest in new, more fuel-efficient planes for the national airline, aiming to reduce carbon emissions." (Daily Nation)
"Architects are exploring how to create more living spaces on a vertical plane in dense urban environments." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Conservationists are concerned about the impact of increased air travel on the environment, urging a shift away from reliance on fossil-fuel-powered planes." (TheGuardian.com)
"Understanding the historical and cultural context helps us operate on a higher plane of understanding when approaching complex social issues." (PsychologyToday.com)
"A master carpenter demonstrated how to properly use a hand plane to achieve a perfectly smooth finish on hardwood." (FineWoodworking.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Sully, the titular character famously lands a plane on the Hudson River after a bird strike.
Television Series: "The detective felt the killer was operating on a completely different plane of thought, making him difficult to predict." (From a crime drama series)
Video Game: Players in "Microsoft Flight Simulator" can choose from hundreds of different planes to pilot across realistic global landscapes. (Released August 2020)
Music: "Ticket to the Moon" by Electric Light Orchestra features lyrics about a solitary journey aboard a "silver plane."
General Public Discourse:
"I missed my flight because the plane was delayed by three hours." (Casual conversation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport)
"You need to sand that wood down, then use a plane to get it really smooth." (Advice given during a DIY home renovation)
"Their discussion moved to a more theoretical plane, delving into philosophical concepts rather than practical matters." (During a university lecture)
10 Quotes Using Plane
"There is an old, old plane in the living room, and that is what I like to play." (Louis Armstrong)
"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a piece of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web. That is why one must not distinguish between things. There are no noble materials, there are no ignoble materials. All are on the same plane." (Pablo Picasso)
"I'm not on a spiritual plane with God, I'm just on a first-name basis." (George Carlin)
"We live in a world where we don't have a choice but to use the plane." (Chesley Sullenberger, Miracle on the Hudson)
"I believe that we are on the eve of a new era, and that humanity is on the threshold of a higher plane of development." (Nikola Tesla)
"Life is like a game of chess. To win you have to make a good move, to make a good move you have to know what move you should make, and to know what move you should make, you have to be able to see the game on a much higher plane." (Bobby Fischer)
"On the intellectual plane, things are moving so quickly." (Nirmala Sitharaman)
"My ideal day is to wake up, go to work, come home, have dinner, and then just relax and watch a movie, or get on a plane and go somewhere fun." (Chris Brown)
"The earth is not a plane, it is a sphere." (Ferdinand Magellan)
"The plane itself is a magic carpet that will transport us to faraway places." (Amelia Earhart)
Etymology
The word "plane" comes from the Latin word planus, which simply meant "flat" or "level." You can still see this root in words like "flat," "plain" (as in "plain ground" or "plain clothes," meaning simple and unadorned), and "plan" (a flat drawing or design).
When "plane" first appeared in English, back in the late 14th century, its initial meaning was very much tied to this idea of flatness. It referred to a flat surface or a level expanse of ground. Think of a "plane field" or a "plane geometry" lesson – it's all about things being flat.
Over time, the word began to take on more specific meanings, but they almost always relate back to that original idea of "flatness" or "evenness":
Woodworking tool: The tool used to "plane" wood makes it flat and smooth. This use appeared around the 16th century.
Aircraft: This is a much newer meaning, only becoming common in the early 20th century. An airplane is called a "plane" because its wings are flat surfaces designed to create lift.
Level of existence/thought: This is a more abstract use, where a "higher plane" implies a more elevated, often "smoother" or more refined level of thought or being, compared to a rougher, lower one.
So, at its core, "plane" has always been about being flat, level, or smooth, with its various meanings branching out from that fundamental concept.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Plane
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "plane":
On a different plane: Operating or existing at a significantly different, often higher or more sophisticated, level.
Plane sailing: (Often heard as "plain sailing") A situation that is straightforward and easy, without difficulties.
Take a plane: To travel by airplane.
By plane: Traveling via aircraft.
Catch a plane: To get on an airplane for a journey.
Miss a plane: To fail to get on an airplane before it departs.
On the same plane: At the same level of understanding, importance, or existence.
Off the plane: Having just disembarked from an aircraft.
Plane crash: An accident involving an aircraft that results in severe damage or destruction.
Plane ticket: A document that allows a person to travel by airplane.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of plane from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
