plane
gb/plˈeɪn/ us/plˈeɪn/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Aircraft with fixed wings
A machine with wings and an engine that flies in the sky.
Usage pattern:
[someone] flies a plane
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'plane' with 'plain' (meaning simple or flat land) because they sound the same.
Synonyms
airplane (Standard American English term for the same concept.)
|
aircraft (More general term that can include helicopters and other flying machines.)
Antonyms
helicopter (A flying vehicle without fixed wings, using rotating blades instead.)
Collocations
fly a plane
|board a plane
|plane crash
|plane ticket
|plane ride
Themes
transportation
|travel
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The plane landed safely despite the storm.
- We missed our plane because of heavy traffic.
- She learned to fly a plane at the age of 20.
- The plane was delayed due to bad weather.
Learner examples
- The plane is in the sky.
- I see a big plane at the airport.
- We take a plane to London.
- He flies a plane for work.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Flat surface or level
A flat surface, or a level of thought or reality.
Usage pattern:
on a [adjective] plane
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'plane' in this sense with 'plain' meaning 'simple'.
Synonyms
level (Refers to a position or stage, not always physical.)
|
surface (Specifically refers to the outer boundary of an object.)
Antonyms
curve (A line or surface that is not flat.)
Collocations
geometric plane
|horizontal plane
|on another plane
Themes
geometry
|philosophy
|space
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In geometry, a plane extends infinitely in two dimensions.
- Her ideas operate on a different plane from ours.
- The carpenter ensured the shelf was on a horizontal plane.
Learner examples
- The table has a flat plane.
- We study lines and planes in math.
- Her thinking is on another plane.
Verb
B2
action
3
Smooth wood with a tool
To make wood smooth by cutting off thin pieces with a tool.
Usage pattern:
[someone] planes [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this verb form with 'plan' (to arrange ahead).
Synonyms
smooth (General term for making something even, not just with a planer.)
Antonyms
roughen (To make a surface uneven or coarse.)
Collocations
plane the wood
|plane down the edges
Themes
carpentry
|crafts
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He planed the door so it would close properly.
- The carpenter planed the tabletop until it was perfectly flat.
- You need to plane down the edges before joining the boards.
Learner examples
- He planes the wood.
- She planes the edge of the table.
- We plane the door to make it fit.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plane
IPA
GB/plˈeɪn/
US/plˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
plane (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plane)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plane
- Plural: planes
Verb
- Base: plane
- 3rd Person Singular: planes
- Present Participle: planing
- Past: planed
Word family
Expressions
catch a plane
1/kˈæt͡ʃ ə plˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
Board an aircraft before it leaves
To get on an airplane before it leaves and travel on it.
Examples
- I have to leave now if I want to catch my plane.
- She caught an early morning plane to New York.
on another plane
1/ˈɔn ənˈʌðɚ plˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
At a different level of thought or reality
To be at a different level of thinking, feeling, or reality than others.
Examples
- His art is on another plane entirely.
- The conversation moved to another plane of understanding.