Definition of 'plan'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense plans
, present participle planning
, past tense, past participle planned
1. countable noun [oft according to N]
A plan is a method of achieving something that you have worked out in detail beforehand.
2. verb
3. plural noun [NOUN to-infinitive]
If you have plans, you are intending to do a particular thing.
4. verb
When you plan something that you are going to make, build, or create, you decide what the main
parts of it will be and do a drawing of how it should be made.
6. See also planning
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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Word Frequency
plan in British English
noun
3.
a drawing to scale of a horizontal section through a building taken at a given level; a view from above an object or
an area in orthographic projection
Compare ground plan (sense 1), elevation (sense 5)5.
(in perspective drawing) any of several imaginary planes perpendicular to the line of vision and between the eye and object depicted
verbWord forms: plans, planning, planned
6.
to form a plan (for) or make plans (for)
7. (transitive)
to make a plan of (a building)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C18: via French from Latin plānus flat; compare plane1, plain1Word Frequency
plan in American English
noun
1.
a drawing or diagram showing the arrangement in horizontal section of a structure,
piece of ground, etc.
2.
b.
a method of proceeding
3.
any outline or sketch
4.
in perspective, any of several planes thought of as perpendicular to the line of sight and between the eye and the object
verb transitiveWord forms: planned or ˈplanning
5.
to make a plan of (a structure, piece of ground, etc.)
6.
to devise a scheme for doing, making, or arranging
7.
to have in mind as a project or purpose
verb intransitive
SYNONYMY NOTE: plan refers to any detailed method, formulated beforehand, for doing or making something
[vacation plans]; design stresses the final outcome of a plan and implies the use of skill or craft, sometimes
in an unfavorable sense, in executing or arranging this [it was his design to separate us]; project implies the use of enterprise or imagination in formulating an ambitious or extensive
plan [a housing project]; scheme, a less definite term than the preceding, often connotes either an impractical, visionary
plan or an underhanded intrigue [a scheme to embezzle the funds]8.
to make plans
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
plan- in American English
used before a vowel
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
plan in American English
(plæn) (verb planned, planning)
noun
1.
a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance
battle plans
2.
a design or scheme of arrangement
an elaborate plan for seating guests
4. Also called: plan view
6. (in perspective drawing)
one of several planes in front of a represented object, and perpendicular to the line
between the object and the eye
transitive verb
8.
to arrange a method or scheme beforehand for (any work, enterprise, or proceeding)
to plan a new recreation center
9.
to make plans for
to plan one's vacation
10.
to draw or make a diagram or layout of, as a building
intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. plot, formula, system. plan, project, design, scheme imply a formulated method of doing something. plan refers to any method of thinking out acts and purposes beforehand: What are your plans for today? A project is a proposed or tentative plan, often elaborate or extensive: an irrigation project. design suggests art, dexterity, or craft (sometimes evil and selfish) in the elaboration
or execution of a plan, and often tends to emphasize the purpose in view: a misunderstanding brought about by design. A scheme is apt to be either a speculative, possibly impracticable, plan, or a selfish or
dishonest one: a scheme to swindle someone. 4. sketch, draft, diagram, chart. 8. design, devise, plot.11.
to make plans
to plan ahead
to plan for one's retirement
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
planless adjective
planlessly
adverb
planlessness
noun
Word origin
[1670–80; ‹ F: ground, plan, groundwork, scheme, n. use of the adj.: flat, plane1, learned borrowing of L plānus level (cf. plain1)]Word Frequency
plan- in American English
combining form
var. (before a vowel) of plano-1
planate
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
plan in Insurance
(plæn)
Word forms: (regular plural) plans
noun
(Insurance: General)
cash plan, defined benefit plan, defined contribution plan, funeral plan, health maintenance plan, high-deductible health plan, indemnity plan, preferred provider plan A life insurance plan is a major step you can take in order to assure the prosperity of your family.
Some plans allow withdrawal of accumulated growth at any time without penalties.
A plan is an insurance policy or contract, especially a life or health insurance policy.
Collins COBUILD Key Words for Insurance. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'plan' in a sentence
plan
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plan
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In other languages
plan
British English: plan
/plæn/ NOUN
A plan is a method of achieving something that you have worked out in detail beforehand.
The three leaders had worked out a peace plan.
- American English: plan /ˈplæn/
- Arabic: خُطَّة
- Brazilian Portuguese: plano
- Chinese: 计划
- Croatian: plan
- Czech: plán
- Danish: plan strategi
- Dutch: plan
- European Spanish: plano edificio
- Finnish: suunnitelma
- French: plan projet
- German: Plan
- Greek: σχέδιο
- Italian: progetto
- Japanese: 計画
- Korean: 계획
- Norwegian: plan
- Polish: plan zamiar
- European Portuguese: plano
- Romanian: plan
- Russian: план
- Latin American Spanish: plan esquema
- Swedish: plan
- Thai: แผนการ
- Turkish: plan
- Ukrainian: план
- Vietnamese: kế hoạch
British English: plan
/plæn/ VERB
If you plan what you are going to do, you decide in detail what you are going to do, and you intend to do it.
If you plan what you're going to eat, you reduce your chances of overeating.
- American English: plan /ˈplæn/
- Arabic: يُخَطِط
- Brazilian Portuguese: planejar
- Chinese: 计划
- Croatian: planirati
- Czech: plánovat
- Danish: planlægge
- Dutch: plannen
- European Spanish: planear
- Finnish: suunnitella
- French: prévoir planifier
- German: planen
- Greek: σχεδιάζω
- Italian: progettare
- Japanese: 計画する
- Korean: 계획하다
- Norwegian: planlegge
- Polish: zaplanować
- European Portuguese: planear
- Romanian: a plănui
- Russian: планировать
- Latin American Spanish: planear
- Swedish: planera
- Thai: วางแผน
- Turkish: planlamak
- Ukrainian: планувати
- Vietnamese: vạch kế hoạch
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plan
Source
Definition of plan from the Collins English Dictionary
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