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.”
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 notesIn 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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Word forms
- Plural
- planks
- Third person singular
- planks
- Past tense
- planked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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."
Related words
Rhymes for plank
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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