aeroplane

aeroplane — noun

1. a machine with fixed wings and engines that carries people or goods through the

1.nounA2
Definition

a machine with fixed wings and engines that carries people or goods through the sky.

Example

Xiomara pressed her face to the window as the aeroplane lifted off the runway.

subject + verb in main clause

The Watanabe family flew to Sydney by aeroplane for the summer holidays.

collocation: by aeroplane

Common collocations
  • board an aeroplane
  • aeroplane ticket
  • aeroplane journey
  • by aeroplane
Synonyms
  • airplane

    American English spelling for the same object

  • plane

    shorter, more common in everyday speech

  • aircraft

    broader term covering helicopters, gliders, jets, etc.

  • jet

    specifically a faster aeroplane powered by jet engines

Grammar Patterns

by aeroplane

on an aeroplane

Usage Note

Mainly British spelling. American English uses 'airplane', and 'plane' is the everyday short form in both varieties.

Common Mistakes

I took a aeroplane to Paris.
I took an aeroplane to Paris.
use 'an' before vowel sounds.
We went there by the aeroplane.
We went there by aeroplane.
no article in the fixed phrase 'by aeroplane'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe machines that fly, but the differences matter. 'Aeroplane' is the standard British spelling, while 'airplane' is the American equivalent — both refer to the same vehicle with fixed wings and engines. 'Plane' is the casual short form preferred in everyday conversation in both varieties: people far more often say 'catch a plane' than 'catch an aeroplane'. 'Aircraft' is a broader category that also covers helicopters, gliders, drones and even airships, so it sounds more technical and is common in news reports or aviation contexts. 'Jet' is narrower — only an aeroplane powered by jet engines, usually fast and modern. Compare: 'a small propeller aeroplane' (slow, light) versus 'a passenger jet' (fast, long-distance).

aeroplane ↗airplane ↗plane ↗aircraft ↗jet ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • aeroplane ticket
  • aeroplane journey
  • aeroplane window
  • aeroplane crash

Phrases

  • board an aeroplane
  • fly an aeroplane
  • land an aeroplane
  • miss the aeroplane

Prepositions

  • by aeroplane
  • on an aeroplane
  • in an aeroplane

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Formed in the late 19th century from the Greek roots 'aero-' meaning air and the French 'planer' meaning to glide or soar. The word entered English around the 1870s for early gliding experiments, then became the standard British term for powered flying machines after the Wright brothers' first flights in 1903. American English shortened the spelling to 'airplane' in the early 20th century.