airplane

airplane — noun

1. a machine that flies through the sky, with two long wings on its sides and at le

1.nounA1
Definition

a machine that flies through the sky, with two long wings on its sides and at least one engine that pushes it forward.

Example

Tariq pressed his face against the window as the airplane lifted off the runway.

collocation: an airplane lifts off / takes off

Our airplane to Tokyo was delayed for three hours because of heavy snow.

collocation: an airplane to [destination]

Common collocations
  • board an airplane
  • get on / get off an airplane
  • an airplane takes off
  • an airplane lands
  • paper airplane
  • model airplane
Synonyms
  • plane

    shorter, more common in everyday speech in both American and British English

  • aeroplane

    British spelling of the same thing

  • aircraft

    broader term that also covers helicopters, gliders, and drones

  • jet

    specifically an airplane powered by jet engines, often fast or large

Usage Note

American English term; British speakers say 'aeroplane' or, in informal speech, 'plane'. 'Plane' is the most common form in everyday conversation across both varieties.

Common Mistakes

I will go to Taipei by an airplane.
I will go to Taipei by airplane.
with the phrase 'by airplane' (means of transport), no article is used.
I took the aeroplane in New York last week.
I took the airplane in New York last week.
in American contexts, use the American spelling 'airplane'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In American English, 'airplane' is the standard written form, while 'plane' is the everyday spoken short form used by speakers of every variety. British writers and speakers prefer 'aeroplane', which means exactly the same machine — only the spelling differs. 'Aircraft' is the widest term: it includes airplanes, but also helicopters, gliders, balloons, and drones, so an air-traffic controller might say 'forty-seven aircraft are in our airspace'. 'Jet' is narrower than 'airplane': it refers only to planes powered by jet engines, often suggesting speed or size, as in 'a private jet' or 'a fighter jet'. In daily talk, you would say 'I took a plane to Osaka', but in a written travel itinerary you might see 'airplane' or 'aircraft'.

airplane ↗plane ↗aeroplane ↗aircraft ↗jet ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • airplane ticket
  • airplane crash
  • airplane window
  • airplane mode
  • paper airplane
  • model airplane

Phrases

  • board an airplane
  • get on an airplane
  • the airplane takes off
  • the airplane lands

Prepositions

  • by airplane
  • on an airplane
  • off an airplane

Etymology

Greek aero-Latin planumFrench planEnglish

Formed in late 19th-century English from 'air' (the sky) plus 'plane' (a flat surface), the second part borrowed from French 'plan' meaning a flat or level shape. Early flying machines were named for their flat wing surfaces, which were called 'planes'. The American spelling 'airplane' became standard in the United States in the early 20th century, while British writers kept 'aeroplane', built on the older Greek-style prefix 'aero-' (meaning air).