Plane

/pleɪn/ noun

Definition

A plane can mean an airplane that flies in the sky, or a flat, level surface in geometry.

Etymology

The flat-surface sense comes from Latin 'planum' meaning 'flat surface', from 'planus' meaning 'flat'. The aircraft sense is a short form of 'aeroplane', from Greek 'aero' (air) and 'planos' (wandering).

Kelly Says

The 'plane' in geometry and the 'plane' you fly on are not as related as they look—one is about flatness, the other about wandering through the air. But airplane wings do rely on carefully shaped surfaces, so in a way, geometry still lifts you off the ground.

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