plane (mathematics)

plane

plane1 / plān/ • n. 1. a flat surface on which a straight line joining any two points on it would wholly lie: the horizontal plane. ∎  an imaginary flat surface through or joining material objects: the planets orbit the sun in roughly the same plane. ∎  a flat or level surface of a material object: the plane of his forehead. ∎  a flat surface producing lift by the action of air or water over and under it. 2. a level of existence, thought, or development: everything is connected on the spiritual plane. • adj. completely level or flat. ∎  of or relating to only two-dimensional surfaces or magnitudes: plane and solid geometry. • v. [intr.] (of a bird or an airborne object) soar without moving the wings; glide: a bird planed down toward the water below. ∎  [intr.] (of a boat, surfboard, etc.) skim over the surface of water as a result of lift produced hydrodynamically. plane2 • n. an airplane. • v. [intr.] rare travel in an airplane. plane3 • n. a tool consisting of a block with a projecting steel blade, used to smooth a wooden or other surface by paring shavings from it. • v. [tr.] smooth (wood or other material) with a plane. ∎  [tr.] reduce or remove (redundant material) with a plane: high areas can be planed down. ∎ archaic make smooth or level.

plane

plane4 (also plane tree) • n. a tall spreading tree (genus Platanus, family Platanaceae) of the northern hemisphere, with maplelike leaves and bark that peels in uneven patches. See also sycamore.

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"plane." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"plane." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-plane.html

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plane

plane in mathematics, flat surface of infinite extent but no thickness. An example of a plane, or more exactly of a bounded portion of a plane, is the surface forming one face, or side, of a cube. A plane is determined, or defined, by any of the following: (1) three points not in a straight line; (2) a straight line and a point not on the line; (3) two intersecting lines; or (4) two parallel lines. Two straight lines in space do not usually lie in the same plane. For a given plane in space, a line can either lie outside and parallel to it, intersect the plane in a single point, or lie entirely in the plane; if more than one point of a straight line lies in the plane, then the entire line must lie in the plane.

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"plane." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"plane." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-plane.html

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plane

plane In mathematics, a flat surface such that a straight line joining any two points on it lies entirely within the surface. Its equation in the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates is ax + by + cz = d, where a, b, c, and d are constants.

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"plane." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"plane." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-plane.html

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plane

plane v.
1. (of a bird or an airborne object) soar without moving the wings; glide.

2. (of a boat, surfboard, etc.) skim over the surface of water as a result of lift produced hydrodynamically.

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"plane." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"plane." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-plane.html

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plane

plane2 tool for smoothing surfaces. XIV. — (O)F., var. (under the infl. of vb. planer) of †plaine :- late L. plāna planing instrument, f. plānāre PLANE5.

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T. F. HOAD. "plane." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "plane." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plane1.html

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plane

plane5 †make level or even; smooth with a plane XIV (also pleyne, plaine, plain until XVIII). — (O)F. planer :— L. plānāre, f. plānus PLAIN.

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T. F. HOAD. "plane." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plane4.html

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plane

plane (playn) n. a level or smooth surface, especially any of the hypothetical flat surfaces used to divide the body (see coronal, sagittal).

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"plane." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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plane

plane3 plane surface. XVII. — L. plānum flat surface, sb. use of n. of plānus PLAIN.

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T. F. HOAD. "plane." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-plane2.html

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plane

plane4 level, flat. XVII. refash. of PLAIN adj. after F. plan, fem. plane.

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plane

plane. Flat surface, e.g. a wall or a floor.

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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "plane." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES STEVENS CURL. "plane." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-plane.html

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plane

planeabstain, appertain, arcane, arraign, ascertain, attain, Bahrain, bane, blain, brain, Braine, Cain, Caine, campaign, cane, chain, champagne, champaign, Champlain, Charmaine, chicane, chow mein, cocaine, Coleraine, Coltrane, complain, constrain, contain, crane, Dane, deign, demesne, demi-mondaine, detain, disdain, domain, domaine, drain, Duane, Dwane, Elaine, entertain, entrain, explain, fain, fane, feign, gain, Germaine, germane, grain, humane, Hussein, inane, Jain, Jane, Jermaine, Kane, La Fontaine, lain, lane, legerdemain, Lorraine, main, Maine, maintain, mane, mise en scène, Montaigne, moraine, mundane, obtain, ordain, pain, Paine, pane, pertain, plain, plane, Port-of-Spain, profane, rain, Raine, refrain, reign, rein, retain, romaine, sane, Seine, Shane, Sinn Fein, skein, slain, Spain, Spillane, sprain, stain, strain, sustain, swain, terrain, thane, train, twain, Ujjain, Ukraine, underlain, urbane, vain, vane, vein, Verlaine, vicereine, wain, wane, Wayne •watch chain • mondaine • Haldane •ultramundane • Cellophane •novocaine • sugar cane • marocain

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"plane." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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