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 of airplane

• plane
• aeroplane
• airliner

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

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a new rule that will require air traffic controllers to use radar to separate airplane and helicopter traffic near major airport arrival and departure tracks. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

Steve Davis, chief scientist at the Everglades Foundation, took a Miami Herald reporter in a small airplane over the wetlands last week. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

In 1952, John Madigan covered the first presidential campaign that used airplanes to move around the country. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026

Spiking oil means higher gas and diesel prices paid at the pump and higher fuel prices required to fly airplanes — all of which can create an inflation shock. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of aeroplane

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing airplane

• airplane mode

Rhymes for airplane

• abstain
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign
• cetane

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