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

• plane
• aeroplane [chiefly British]
• 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 new 539-page master plan, the first new growth blueprint for the airport in more than 45 years, includes new infrastructure such as runways, taxiways, hangars and other airplane parking. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025

Taygeer Carry-on Backpack The Taygeer Carry-on Backpack opens like a clamshell, allowing for a larger capacity than most backpacks while still fitting underneath an airplane seat. —Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025

This one at Amazon will keep you warm on cold airplanes thanks to the soft knit fabric. —Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

Kelsey, who was adopted as an infant, sketched out the design for her boxes on an airplane napkin. —Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025

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