Aeroplane

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: [ˈɛə̯.ɹə.pleɪ̯n]

Definitions

1. A heavier-than-air vehicle equipped with wings that achieves flight through thrust from engines, primarily used for transporting people or cargo across distances
2. A fixed-wing aircraft that relies on engine power to generate lift, facilitating travel through the skies for passengers and freight
3. A powered flying machine with fixed wings that enables aerial travel by creating lift, commonly utilized for both passenger and cargo transport

Etymology: The word was coined in France in the 1850s from Greek roots meaning "wandering in air." The Greek compound "aeroplanos" joined "aer," air, with "planos," wandering, a sense that also gave us "planet," a word for a wandering star. The French adopted it as "aéroplane," and English took it up from there. The earliest documented use comes from a patent. In 1855 Joseph Pline used the term in a patent filing, making it one of the first recorded appearances of the word in print, well before any powered flight had taken place. The term was a classical-style coinage built from ancient Greek roots, not an old word that moved into modern machinery. The "aero-" element was later used in many other compounds, such as "aerodrome" and "aerospace," which share the same opening.

Synonyms: airplane, jet, plane, craft, bird