A light rigid plane used in aërial navigation to oppose sudden upward or downward movement in the air, as in gliding machines; specif., such a plane slightly inclined and driven forward as a lifting device in some flying machines. Also called airfoil.

hence, a heavier-than-air flying machine using such a device to provide lift. In a modern aeroplane, the airfoils are called the wings, and most of the lift is derived from these surfaces. In contrast to helicopters, the wings are fixed to the passenger compartment (airframe) and do not move relative to the frame; thus such a machine is called a fixed-wing aircraft. These machines are called monoplanes, biplanes, triplanes, or quadruplanes, according to the number of main supporting planes (wings) used in their construction. After 1940 few planes with more than one airfoil were constructed, and these are used by hobbyists or for special purposes. Being heavier than air they depend for their levitation on motion imparted by the thrust from either propellers driven by an engine, or, in a jet plane, by the reaction from a high-velocity stream of gases expelled rearward from a jet engine. They start from the ground by a run on small wheels or runners, and are guided by a steering apparatus consisting of horizontal and vertical movable planes, which usually form part of the wings or tail. There are many varieties of form and construction, which in some cases are known by the names of their inventors. In U.S., an aeroplane is usually called an airplane or plane.

A mechanically driven heavier-than-air flying machine which has fixed wings. An aerodyne with fixed wings) the terms includes landplanes, seaplanes and amphibians. The word should be used in preference to the generic term 'aircraft' when an aeroplane is specifically meant. The abbreviation 'plane', commonly used is not correct and should be avoided. 'Plane properly means a wing.

Powered heavier-than-air aircraft with a non-rotating wing

A powered aircraft that derives its lift from the movement of air over fixed lifting surfaces. (Also airplane)

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets; "the flight was delayed due to trouble with the airplane"

a means of riding high, but if it is taking a nose dive, then I am not flying high as I could or should be, and in Gemini, this shows that I am not putting my mental energies and speaking/writing skills to good enough use

a means of transport with two wings

a two winged lifeless object flying through the air guided by a pilot

An aeroplane flying towards the handle shows that you are going to get some news soon or it proclaims the arrival of someone from far away.

Piloting a plane means you will achieve something of outstanding merit. If a passenger your income will be increased. If you fall or bail out of a plane there may be several months of bad luck ahead. Travelling by plane is a prophecy of a long period of indecision regarding love affairs.

A power driven heavier than air aircraft that derives support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air on its surfaces that remain fixed under given conditions of flight. (See also airplane)

A power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft that derives its lift in flight from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces that remain fixed during flight. Fr: avion

airplane afters [colloq.] dessert