Aeroplane vs. Airplane

Aeroplanenoun

A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings.

Aeroplanenoun

An airfoil.

Aeroplanenoun

(entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies, of various genera, having a slow gliding flight. Also called planes.

Aeroplanenoun

A light rigid plane used in aërial navigation to oppose sudden upward or downward movement in the air, as in gliding machines; specif., such a plane slightly inclined and driven forward as a lifting device in some flying machines. Also called airfoil.

Aeroplanenoun

hence, a heavier-than-air flying machine using such a device to provide lift. In a modern aeroplane, the airfoils are called the wings, and most of the lift is derived from these surfaces. In contrast to helicopters, the wings are fixed to the passenger compartment (airframe) and do not move relative to the frame; thus such a machine is called a fixed-wing aircraft. These machines are called monoplanes, biplanes, triplanes, or quadruplanes, according to the number of main supporting planes (wings) used in their construction. After 1940 few planes with more than one airfoil were constructed, and these are used by hobbyists or for special purposes. Being heavier than air they depend for their levitation on motion imparted by the thrust from either propellers driven by an engine, or, in a jet plane, by the reaction from a high-velocity stream of gases expelled rearward from a jet engine. They start from the ground by a run on small wheels or runners, and are guided by a steering apparatus consisting of horizontal and vertical movable planes, which usually form part of the wings or tail. There are many varieties of form and construction, which in some cases are known by the names of their inventors. In U.S., an aeroplane is usually called an airplane or plane.

Aeroplanenoun

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets;

Aeroplanenoun

a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces.

Airplanenoun

(US) A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings.

Airplanenoun

a heavier-than-air aircraft. Same as aeroplane{2}.

Airplanenoun

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets;

Airplanenoun

a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces; an aeroplane.

Airplane

An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations.