planar

adjective

pla·​nar ˈplā-nər How to pronounce planar (audio)
-ˌnär
1
: of, relating to, or lying in a plane
2
: two-dimensional in quality
planarity
plā-ˈner-ə-tē How to pronounce planar (audio)
-ˈna-rə-
noun

Examples of planar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The first chip was made in a 65-nm process, which uses planar transistors. IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2023 But this limits the circuits to a two-dimensional planar structure, which doesn’t suit the geometry of new MCF, says Simon Gross, a researcher at Macquarie University’s Photonics Research Center. IEEE Spectrum, 26 June 2023 The footage also has a close-up of what are likely to be huge 22-inch wheels mounted on Michelin Primacy LTX tires, and there’s a close pan of the planar roof and antenna. Umar Shakir, The Verge, 20 June 2023 New states of matter for solving old problems Non-Abelian anyons exist in two-dimensional spaces, such as surfaces or planar material like graphene, and display a peculiar kind of individuality mandated by the laws of quantum physics. IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2023 In the early 1980s, Goetzberger conducted pioneering research into fluorescent planar collector-concentrators, utilizing photovoltaic (PV) material mixed with fluorescent dyes to separate the various wavelengths of light and convert them using solar cells with different band gaps. IEEE Spectrum, 12 May 2023 His theory came from an observation of the planar transistor—designed in 1957 by Fairchild physicist Jean Hoerni, in which the oxide layer is left in place on a silicon wafer to protect the sensitive semiconductor materials underneath. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Apr. 2023 The graph is also planar, meaning it can be drawn so no edges cross. Quanta Magazine, 29 Mar. 2023 Even the TurtleBot 3 is $600, and only comes with a planar lidar. IEEE Spectrum, 3 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'planar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of planar was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near planar

Cite this Entry

“Planar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/planar. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!