Illustration of plane
- 3plane
plane
1 of 6noun (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 6verb (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 6noun (2)
: a tool for smoothing or shaping a wood surface
plane
4 of 6noun (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 6verb (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 6adjective
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective you can do these tracings on any plane surface
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
Kids Definition
plane 1 of 4
noun
ˈplān
1
: airplane
2
: a surface in which if any two points are chosen a straight line joining them lies completely in that surface
3
: a level of thought, existence, or development
The two stories are not on the same plane.
4
: a level or flat surface
a horizontal plane
plane
2 of 4adjective
: horizontal entry 1, flat
a plane surface
plane
3 of 4noun
: a tool that smooths wood by shaving off thin strips
plane
4 of 4verb
planed; planing
1
: to smooth or level off with a tool made for smoothing
2
: to remove with or as if with a tool for smoothing wood
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 
Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Associationplane 1 of 4
noun
as in airplane
a vehicle for traveling through the air that has fixed wings for lift a plane flew overhead Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- airplane
- aeroplane
- airliner
- aircraft
- jet
- ship
- airship
- airframe
- bomber
- jetliner
- biplane
- seaplane
- freighter
- tractor
- tanker
- supersonic
- liner
- aerodyne
- trijet
- turboprop
- turbojet
- superjet
- air taxi
- trimotor
- rocket plane
- glider
- aerospace plane
- warplane
- triplane
- supersonic transport
- towplane
- amphibian
- fighter
- lightplane
- sailplane
- torpedo bomber
- jump jet
- air-cushion vehicle
- tilt-rotor
plane
2 of 4adjective
as in level
having a surface without bends, breaks, or irregularities you can do these tracings on any plane surface Synonyms & Similar Words
- level
- flat
- horizontal
- smooth
- even
- exact
- vertical
- uniform
- flush
- straight
- regular
- true
- aligned
- plumb
- alined
- tabular
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rough
- bumpy
- coarse
- uneven
- warped
- lumpy
- irregular
- wavy
- undulating
- undulatory
- inexact
- unsmoothed
- unaligned
- pitted
- pockmarked
- pocky
plane
3 of 4verb (1)
as in to smooth
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps planed the wood for the picnic table perfectly smooth so that no one would get splinters Synonyms & Similar Words
- smooth
- even
- shave
- rake
- level
- flatten
- trim
- surface
- clip
- crop
- lay
- comb
- pare
- card
- smoothen
- press
- prune
- spread
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rough
- bend
- roughen
- wrinkle
- pit
- dent
- kink
- coarsen
- rumple
plane
4 of 4verb (2)
as in to fly
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings an eagle planed effortlessly overhead, gliding on an air current Synonyms & Similar Words
- fly
- wing
- hover
- sail
- glide
- float
- drift
- aviate
- soar
- helicopter
- coast
- dart
- jet
- flutter
- orbit
- cruise
- rocket
- sweep
- waft
- dive
- hang
- flit
- catapult
- stoop
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of plane are even, flat, level, and smooth. While all these words mean "having a surface without bends, curves, or irregularities," 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
While the synonyms even and plane are close in meaning, 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
While in some cases nearly identical to plane, flat applies to a surface devoid of noticeable curvatures, prominences, or depressions.
the work surface must be flat
The meanings of level and plane largely overlap; however, level applies to a horizontal surface that lies on a line parallel with the horizon.
the vast prairies are nearly level
In some situations, the words smooth and plane are roughly equivalent. However, smooth applies especially to a polished surface free of irregularities.
a smooth skating rink