aeroplane
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An aeroplane (Airbus A330)
English
Alternative forms
- aëroplane (dated)
- airplane (US, Canada, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand)
- æroplane (hypercorrect, dated)
Etymology
Borrowed from French aéroplane, from Ancient Greek ἀερόπλανος (aeróplanos, “wandering in air”), from ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”) + πλάνος (plános, “wandering”). First used by Joseph Pline in an 1855 patent.;
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): , dated IPA(key):
- (Standard Southern British) IPA(key):
Audio: (file)
- (MLE) IPA(key): ,
- (General Australian) IPA(key):
Audio: (file)
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈɛɚ.ə.pleɪ̯n/
- Hyphenation: ae‧ro‧plane
Noun
aeroplane (plural aeroplanes)
- (aviation, Commonwealth) Synonym of airplane. A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings.
- (aeronautics, archaic, obsolete) Synonym of airfoil. An aerodynamic surface.
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies, of various genera, having a slow gliding flight. Also called planes.
Usage notes
- Aeroplane was the predominant spelling in the US until the 1920s, and is still used idiolectally among some American speakers.
- Canada officially uses aeroplane, but the spelling airplane has become much more common as a result of US influence.
- Airplane has also become a usual variant in most other areas, but is considered informal.
Derived terms
Related terms
airfoil
airplane
aviation, aeronautics
Translations
airplane — see airplane
Verb
aeroplane (third-person singular simple present aeroplanes, present participle aeroplaning, simple past and past participle aeroplaned)
- (intransitive) To fly in an aeroplane.
- (transitive) To transport by aeroplane.
- 1919, The American Angler, volume 4, page 221:
- The rod was discarded, and then, hand over hand, the prize of them all was aeroplaned to the top of the cliff.