plank

noun \ ˈplaŋk \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of plank

1 a : 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

2 a : an article in the platform of a political party

b : a principal item of a policy or program

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See plank defined for kids

Examples of plank in a Sentence

Before the convention, there was debate over the foreign policy and economic planks.

Recent Examples of plank from the Web

Crossed Lunge and Plank Start in plank with left leg extended up and diagonally out to the left.

— Health.com, "Tracy Anderson's 5 Moves to Sculpt a Lean, Sexy Stomach," 10 Apr. 2018
The Get Lean program, for example, includes fat burning moves like running in place and forearm planks, while the Get Moving program is geared more toward those looking to get started with exercise.

— lisa eadicicco, Time, "Review: Fitbit's New Smartwatch Is the Biggest Threat to the Apple Watch Yet," 4 Apr. 2018
Otherwise, the tone is muted with cream-colored walls, wood-look plank tiles on the floor, neutral brick wall accents and white tablecloths.

— courtney dabney, star-telegram, "The Wharf, the new venture from chef Erin Miller, drops anchor in Roanoke | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 28 Mar. 2018
Big Fight’ Thanathorn said another key plank was to empower provinces to select their own governors, collect their own taxes, and issue bonds for public projects.

— natnicha chuwiruch, Bloomberg.com, "Thai Tycoon Gets Death Threats Just Weeks After Registering New Political Party," 27 Mar. 2018
The plan, a major campaign plank, was released alongside a $4.4 trillion budget blueprint cutting a host of domestic programs while also pushing up military spending and raising annual deficits over the next decade.

— kevin diaz, San Antonio Express-News, "Trump public works plan relies heavily on state money," 12 Feb. 2018
Each order comes with 30 feet of A.I.M™ Strips, which are the adhesives that make the planks easily removable and reusable.

— jenny xie, Curbed, "5 wall decor ideas perfect for renters and DIY lovers," 26 Mar. 2018
Like the planks of ship converging at its prow, the tapes form an elongated V suspended just above the viewer’s head.

— steve mannheimer, Indianapolis Star, "New art installation at Herron Gallery uses VHS tape to make your eyes buzz," 22 Mar. 2018
In the short term, Xi is likely to continue the key planks of his first term: top-down and incremental economic reforms, rolling corruption sweeps and increased emphasis Communist Party orthodoxy.

— Bloomberg.com, "Xi Is Just Getting Started After China’s Biggest Government Shakeup in Years," 20 Mar. 2018

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of plank

Middle English, from Anglo-French plaunke, planche, from Latin planca

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

plank

verb

Definition of plank

transitive verb

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

Examples of plank in a Sentence

planked the carton down on the counter and left

Recent Examples of plank from the Web

The other partner broad jumps over the planking partner, turns around and broad jumps back over.

— kalyn kahler, SI.com, "How to Workout Like the New England Patriots Cheerleaders," 19 Jan. 2018
While only bits of the hull, keel and planking remain, researchers uncovered ceramics from Cyprus, Syria and southern Italy, as well as iron nails and ship artifacts like anchors.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Crusader Shipwreck, Likely From the Siege of Acre, Discovered," 21 Mar. 2017
Just look in the living room with Old English wood planked floors.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Suave Sundeleaf-designed estate listed at $2.15 million (photos)," 15 Oct. 2017
The wrong logo was printed on a huge banner that was hung prominently above Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, who was sitting on a red carpet and planked by Lorenzana and the Philippine military chief of staff.

— Washington Post, "Philippines apologizes to China over wrong Taiwan logo," 9 Oct. 2017
The six floors—many wood planked like a ship’s deck—are chockablock with well-upholstered conference rooms and pullout spaces.

— WSJ, "Campus of the Future," 16 Sep. 2017
Baby B kicked incessantly, rolled and curled himself into tight balls, pressed his feet into my ribcage and planked across the arc of my uterus.

— tanika davis, baltimoresun.com, "Navigating the deep end of tricky twin milestones," 24 Aug. 2017
Most of these stunts were simple and silly, but one-upmanship eventually took over as daredevils planked in more outrageous and dangerous places.

— eric levenson, CNN, "'Blinded by YouTube fame': Stunts and pranks go awry in the online era," 29 June 2017
If the promise of small talk with the former First Lady isn't enough to get you out of bed, what about planking with her?

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "Michelle Obama Is Now Hosting Bootcamps for Her Girlfriends, and We Want an Invite," 19 June 2017

First Known Use of plank

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

plank Synonyms

Synonyms

flop, flump, plop, plump, plunk (or plonk);

Related Words

fling, heave, sling, toss;

ensconce, install, plant, settle;

PLANK Defined for English Language Learners

plank

noun

Definition of plank for English Language Learners

: a long, thick board that is used especially in building something
: one of the official beliefs and goals of an organization (such as a political party)