English Explanatory Dictionary

plank

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A long, broad and thick piece of timber, as opposed to a board which is less thick.
  2. A political issue that is of concern to a faction or a party of the people and the political position that is taken on that issue.
  3. Physical exercise in which one holds a pushup position for a measured length of time.
  4. A stupid person, idiot.
  5. That which supports or upholds.
verb
  1. To cover something with planking.
  2. To bake (fish, etc.) on a piece of cedar lumber.
  3. To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash.
  4. To harden, as hat bodies, by felting.
  5. To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing.
  6. To pose for a photograph while lying rigid, face down, arms at side, in an unusual place.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈplæŋk/ [ˈpʰlæŋk] en-us-plank.ogg /ˈpleɪ̯ŋk/ [ˈpʰleɪ̯ŋk] ~ /ˈplɛ̃ŋk/ [ˈpʰlɛ̃ŋk]

Word forms

plank planks planking planked

Etymology

From Middle English plank, planke, borrowed from Old French planke, Old Northern French planque (compare French planche, from Old French planche), from Vulgar Latin planca, from palanca, from Latin phalanga. The Latin term derives from the Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx), so it is thus a doublet of phalange and phalanx. Compare also the doublets planch, planche, and plancha, borrowed later from Middle French, Modern French, and Spanish, respectively.

Synonyms

addle-brain addlehead addle pate airhead baboon beanbrain beetlebrain beetlehead berk bimbo birdbrain blockhead blubberbrain bonehead Boeotian boob bozo brainlet brickhead bubblehead bubble brain bufflehead buffoon Charlie chowderhead chucklehead chump cittern-head clod clodpate clot clown crackhead cretin cuckoo deadhead dimbo dim bulb dimbus dimwit dingbat ding dong dingleberry dingwad dip dipstick doldrum dolt donut doodle doof doofoid doofus dope dork drivel drongo drool bucket dullard dumb bunny

Related words

planche

Derived words

Copenhagen plank gangplank gang plank gang-plank hub plank plankage plank bed plankboard plank down planker plank house plankless planklike plank road plank root plank-sheer plank spanker plank up plankway plankwise planky replank side plank spike plank stage plank stop plank thick as a plank toe the plank two-forty on a plank road unplank walk the plank
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