a heavier-than-air aircraft kept aloft by the upward thrust exerted by the passing air on its fixed wings and driven by propellers, jet propulsion, etc.
any similar heavier-than-air aircraft, as a glider or helicopter.
Also especially British, aeroplane.
Origin of airplane
1870–75, for an earlier sense; alteration of aeroplane, with air1 replacing aero-
OTHER WORDS FROM airplane
pro·air·plane,adjective
Words nearby airplane
air passage, air photograph, airpipe, air piracy, air pistol, airplane, airplane carrier, airplane cloth, airplane mode, airplane spin, airplane splint
I mean just the fact of something gliding—a butterfly, a model airplane, a folded-up sheet of paper.
The science behind how an aircraft glides|By Peter Garrison/Flying Mag|September 3, 2020|Popular Science
In April, survey software provider Qualtrics conducted a study that found 75% of Americans didn’t feel comfortable flying on an airplane at the time.
This year’s top Labor Day destinations might surprise you|Rachel King|September 1, 2020|Fortune
This is one of the lessons I learned, all too well, when I was trying to support my college education by cleaning the insides of airplanes at LAX in the middle of the night.
What I learned from 5 years of cleaning airplanes in the middle of the night|matthewheimer|August 30, 2020|Fortune
The two founded the company in 2017 with the vision of trying to get airplanes flying autonomously as quickly as possible.
Cessna makes history by taking off and landing with no one aboard. Here’s how|Jeremy Kahn|August 26, 2020|Fortune
On July 22, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to introduce the first-ever emissions regulations for airplanes in the United States.
The US is finally regulating airplane emissions but the rules are worthless|Tim McDonnell|July 22, 2020|Quartz
Like him, they identified the Airbus A320 as an airplane extremely well fitted to low cost airline operations in Asia.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Specifically, what briefing did the flight crew receive before they went to the airplane?
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One specific kind of emergency is at the heart of this, such as when an airplane suffers a loss of stability at night.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bottom line is that it will only be a BVR [beyond visual range] airplane.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The airplane was owned by an Indonesian budget carrier, Lion Air.
Who Will Get AsiaAir 8501’s Black Boxes?|Clive Irving|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is also the principle which governs the airplane or glider, whose planes are kept at a definite angle to the air current.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
The flying surfaces of an airplane are made by stretching cloth over the frames.
America's Munitions 1917-1918|Benedict Crowell
There were other airplane enterprises organized by Count Zeppelin, which remain today leaders in their respective fields.
Zeppelin|Harry Vissering
The airplane, instead of being the unusual thing, must become a customary sight over our cities and villages.
Opportunities in Aviation|Arthur Sweetser
They had been traveling some four or five hours since leaving their camp when Bill heard the drone of an airplane engine.
Bill Bruce on Forest Patrol|Henry Harley Arnold
British Dictionary definitions for airplane
airplane
/ (ˈɛəˌpleɪn) /
noun
US and Canadiana heavier-than-air powered flying vehicle with fixed wingsAlso called: aeroplane