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\ ˈplaŋk 
\
\Definition of plank
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : a heavy thick board especially : one 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) thick and at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) wide
b : an object made of a plank or planking
c : planking
d : an exercise in which a prone person balances on the toes and forearms while holding the rest of the body up and off the ground
Do two to three sets of these moves two days a week: push-ups (work up to 25) to build chest, shoulder and triceps strength; plank (support your body on your forearms and toes for up to 60 seconds) to build ab and back strength …— Selene Yeager Start with basic moves like sit-ups, planks, and lunges … — Oprah Magazine
2a : an article in the platform of a political party
b : a principal item of a policy or program
plank
verbplanked; planking; planks
Definition of plank (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to cover, build, or floor with planks
2 : to set down forcefully
—usually used with down
3 : to cook and serve on a board
planked salmon planked steak
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Examples of plank in a Sentence
Noun
Before the convention, there was debate over the foreign policy and economic planks. Verb planked the carton down on the counter and left
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Now and then, most often in the evening, one of them would go out to forage a crust of bread or a plank from a fence for kindling.
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Joanne Turnbull, Harper's Magazine, "The Gamblers," 23 June 2020 Faceing mounting troubles at home, Trump has flipped from seeking Beijing’s help, as Bolton argues in his new book, to being tough on China as the key foreign policy plank in his re-election campaign platform.
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John Walcott, Time, "A Chilly Summit in Hawaii Spotlights Escalating U.S.-China Tensions," 19 June 2020 The nylon-and-lycra material is quick-drying and buttery soft, so your mind will remain distraction-free while practicing your star plank.
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Lindsey Olander, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Bike Shorts to Wear This Summer," 15 June 2020 On what seemed like the flip of a coin, our society stepped off the plank and went plummeting into very choppy water.
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Kalani Thorpe, ExpressNews.com, "This generation has proven its resilience time and time again," 10 June 2020 One key plank of the Barr doctrine is the notion that American conservatism in its Reaganite guise is the guiding model for governing American life.
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Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Bill Barr’s Invisible Crusade," 8 June 2020 Another plank would be continuing the criminal justice reform efforts that produced legislation in 2018, with a focus on helping offenders find work after release.
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Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, "Trump considering listening tour to quell racial unrest, says Ben Carson," 3 June 2020 The video shows a member of the group suddenly punch the woman in the face, as another strikes her with a plank of wood.
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Fox News, "New York woman attacked outside business in disturbing video as looting, rioting grip Rochester, report says," 1 June 2020 Crunchy lettuce and cucumber planks keep things super refreshing, scallions add gentle bite, and a crunchy-creamy sesame dressing inspired by Japanese gomae adds texture and richness to every bite.
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Christina Chaey, Bon Appétit, "The Chicken Salad I’m Eating on My Porch All Summer," 23 May 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb By 1851, San Francisco had finally begun to plank and even cobblestone its streets, and lights appeared on Kearny Street.
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Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, "The year San Francisco’s mud was so bad, it swallowed up horses," 12 June 2020 As with any planking exercise, this one works your core and shoulders, but the shoulder tap movement and decline significantly increases the challenge to both areas.
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Dana Santas, CNN, "Step up your strength and balance with this stair workout," 20 May 2020 According to public health officials, following these measures is critical to planking the curve.
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refinery29.com, "We Made You 12 GIFs To Use While You’re Social-Distancing," 30 Mar. 2020 In total, Hood did around 2,100 hours of planking to prepare for the event, according to Guinness World Records.
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Alicia Lee, CNN, "62-year-old former Marine sets Guinness World Record by holding plank for over 8 hours," 23 Feb. 2020 Instead of using a flat piece of wood for the tabletop, the BCMT Co. team glues planks together, cross-cutting them and then regluing the planks, creating the sort of checkerboard pattern you're used to seeing in butcher block.
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Candace Braun Davison, House Beautiful, "You Need to See How This "Self-Healing" Table Is Made," 8 July 2019 Most memes - from planking to Tide Pods - fizzle fast.
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Author: Logan Hill, Anchorage Daily News, "Is it OK to laugh at Florida Man?," 16 July 2019 Players who didn't run the hill, those sitting out Wednesday's practice and some others with previous knee injuries, spent the workout doing abdominal work like planking and crunches in front of the hill.
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Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions observations: The dreaded conditioning hill, Stafford's latest pick," 31 July 2019 He’s been involved in record-setting attempts for planking, rope-skipping and stationary cycling.
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Jessie Spangler, Aurora Beacon-News, "West suburban fitness guru aims to set 2 planking records," 23 June 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for plank
plank
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of plank
: a long, thick board that is used especially in building something
formal : one of the official beliefs and goals of an organization (such as a political party)
See the full definition for plank in the English Language Learners Dictionary
plank
noun\ ˈplaŋk \
\Kids Definition of plank
: a heavy thick board
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Time Traveler for plank
The first known use of plank was in the 13th century
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