plank

noun \ ˈplaŋk \

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

See plank defined for English-language learners

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

Soon the rasping sounds of a saw joined those of falling water, and local settlers carried away splintery but fresh-smelling planks of oak, elm and walnut.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "How KC’s Watts Mill became a mill — and a fiddler’s paradise," 18 July 2017
There’s been plenty of news about health care legislation — the other blockbuster Republican campaign plank — but hardly a peep lately about a tax bill that could have far-reaching effects on real estate and other segments of the economy.

— kenneth r. harney, miamiherald, "That Trump tax overhaul? Don’t hold your breath," 10 July 2017
For the second song, hold a plank for 30 seconds into 30 seconds of mountain climbers, three breaths in down dog to recover.

— the healthyish team, Bon Appetit, "Healthyish Escapes," 10 July 2017
This patio is open and airy, but ringed with greenery for privacy. your dog will also appreciate the comfort of wide plank flooring below.

— louisa chu, chicagotribune.com, "Our 10 favorite dog-friendly restaurant patios in Chicago," 30 June 2017
The list of building materials owners can choose from includes country farmhouse favorites like metal roofing, rusty metal cladding, white cedar siding, concrete surfaces, plank ceilings, and more.

— jessica mattern, Country Living, "Peek Inside the Most Gorgeous Prefab Homes We've Ever Seen," 30 June 2017
Photo: Getty WASHINGTON—Senate Republican leaders scrambled Wednesday to rework by week’s end their plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, but GOP senators remained mired in disputes over key policy planks of the bill.

— michelle hackman, WSJ, "Senate Republicans Scramble to Rework Health Bill," 28 June 2017
A person would lay flat, like a wooden plank, and pose for a photo in unusual places.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Not as complicated as the Harlem Shuffle, High Five For the Arts hopes to go viral," 27 June 2017
We humans pushed up on their hands to perform planks.

— amy mcrary, USA TODAY, "Pilates and yoga with kittens," 27 June 2017

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

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

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
The medieval ship lay more than a half-mile down at the bottom of the Black Sea, its masts, timbers and planking undisturbed in the darkness for seven or eight centuries.

— william j. broad, New York Times, "‘We Couldn’t Believe Our Eyes’: A Lost World of Shipwrecks Is Found," 11 Nov. 2016

First Known Use of plank

15th century

plank Synonyms

Synonyms

flump, flop, 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)