airplane

noun

air·​plane ˈer-ˌplān 

: a powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings from which it derives most of its lift

Illustration of airplane

• 1 weather radar
• 2 cockpit
• 3 jet engine
• 4 engine pod
• 5 pylon
• 6 wing
• 7 vertical stabilizer
• 8 rudder
• 9 10 tabs
• 11 elevator
• 12 horizontal stabilizer
• 13 inboard flap
• 14 inboard spoiler
• 15 16 tabs
• 17 aileron
• 18 outboard flap
• 19 outboard spoiler
• 20 sound suppressor
• 21 thrust reverser
• 22 cabin air intake
• 23 fuselage
• 24 nose landing gear

Synonyms

• aeroplane [chiefly British]
• plane

Examples of airplane in a Sentence

my uncle learned how to fly an airplane while serving in the air force

Recent Examples on the Web

Another scene depicts an incident in which an airplane landed close to Heder’s character’s head during the renovation process. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

In 2018, during his first term, Trump imposed tariffs of 30% to 50% on goods imported from China, forcing Beijing to retaliate with its own tariffs against US goods like aluminum, airplanes, cars, pork and soybeans. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

First stop was an airplane hangar in East L.A., followed by a warehouse in Venice. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In a sign that both campaigns are targeting voters in battleground states as Tuesday's election nears, the airplanes carrying the presidential and vice presidential candidates have been forced to share the tarmac. —Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of aeroplane

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing airplane

• airplane mode

Kids Definition

airplane

noun

air·​plane ˈa(ə)r-ˌplān 

ˈe(ə)r-

: a fixed-wing heavier-than-air aircraft that is driven by a propeller or by a forceful stream of gases backward and is supported by the reaction of the air against its wings