noun
- a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance: battle plans.
- a design or scheme of arrangement: an elaborate plan for seating guests.
- a specific project or definite purpose: plans for the future.
- Also called plan view. a drawing made to scale to represent the top view or a horizontal section of a structure or a machine, as a floor layout of a building.
- a representation of a thing drawn on a plane, as a map or diagram: a plan of the dock area.
- (in perspective drawing) one of several planes in front of a represented object, and perpendicular to the line between the object and the eye.
- a formal program for specified benefits, needs, etc.: a pension plan.
verb (used with object), planned, plan·ning.
- to arrange a method or scheme beforehand for (any work, enterprise, or proceeding): to plan a new recreation center.
- to make plans for: to plan one’s vacation.
- to draw or make a diagram or layout of, as a building.
verb (used without object), planned, plan·ning.
- to make plans: to plan ahead; to plan for one’s retirement.
- variant of plano-1 before a vowel: planate.
noun
- a detailed scheme, method, etc, for attaining an objective
- (sometimes plural) a proposed, usually tentative idea for doing something
- 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 projectionCompare ground plan (def. 1), elevation (def. 5)
- an outline, sketch, etc
- (in perspective drawing) any of several imaginary planes perpendicular to the line of vision and between the eye and object depicted
verb plans, planning or planned
- to form a plan (for) or make plans (for)
- (tr) to make a plan of (a building)
- (tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to have in mind as a purpose; intend
n.1670s as a technical term in perspective drawing; 1706 as “drawing, sketch, or diagram of any object,” from French plan “ground plan, map,” literally “plane surface” (mid-16c.), from Latin planum “level or flat surface,” noun use of adjective planus “level, flat” (see plane (n.1)). The notion is of “a drawing on a flat surface.” Meaning “scheme of action, design” is first recorded 1706, possibly influenced by French planter “to plant,” from Italian planta “ground plan.” v.1728, “make a plan of,” from plan (n.). Related: Planned; planning; plans. Planned economy is attested from 1931. Planned Parenthood (1942) formerly was Birth Control Federation of America. In addition to the idiom beginning with plan
also see: