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noun Uncommon

plank

PLANGK

Plank (noun) means a long, flat, thick piece of sawn timber. Example: “He nailed a plank across the gap to make a bridge.”

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noun

1

A long, flat, thick piece of sawn timber.

"He nailed a plank across the gap to make a bridge."

"The old jetty was built from weathered wooden planks."

2

A specific policy or issue that forms part of a political party's platform.

"Tax reform was a key plank of her election campaign."

3

An exercise in which a person holds a rigid, face-down position supported on the forearms and toes.

"He held a plank for two minutes straight to strengthen his core."

verb

1

To lie face down, rigid, arms at the sides, in an unusual or incongruous location, typically for a photo.

"They planked on the office desks as a joke for the photo."

How to use plank

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA thick wooden board; also a core-strengthening exercise, and a policy point in politics.

Common pairings

wooden plank hold a plank party plank walk the plank

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Singular: planks
Plural: planks
Past tense: planked

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He nailed a _____ across the gap to make a bridge.

Etymology

From Old French planke, ultimately from Latin phalanga, itself borrowed from Greek phalanx — the same root that gives us "phalanx."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

board plop plonk plump flump plunk plank over plump down plunk down

Related words

board Council exactly stage table card border wine

Rhymes for plank

bank dank tank wank rank Hank drank stank thank frank prank swank

See all rhymes for plank →

Frequently asked questions

What does “plank” mean?

The word “plank” means a long, flat, thick piece of sawn timber. In plain terms, a thick wooden board; also a core-strengthening exercise, and a policy point in politics.

How do you pronounce “plank”?

“Plank” is pronounced PLANGK (/ˈplæŋk/ in IPA).

How do you use “plank” in a sentence?

Here is “plank” used in a sentence: “He nailed a plank across the gap to make a bridge.”

What part of speech is “plank”?

Depending on how it is used, “plank” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “plank” come from?

The word “plank” comes from Latin. From Old French planke, ultimately from Latin phalanga, itself borrowed from Greek phalanx — the same root that gives us "phalanx.".

Is “plank” a common word?

“Plank” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “plank” have?

“Plank” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, flat, thick piece of sawn timber.

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board Council exactly stage table card border wine

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial