plan

[plan] /plæn/
noun
1.
a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance:
battle plans.
2.
a design or scheme of arrangement:
an elaborate plan for seating guests.
3.
a specific project or definite purpose:
plans for the future.
4.
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.
5.
a representation of a thing drawn on a plane, as a map or diagram:
a plan of the dock area.
6.
(in perspective drawing) one of several planes in front of a represented object, and perpendicular to the line between the object and the eye.
7.
a formal program for specified benefits, needs, etc.:
a pension plan.
verb (used with object), planned, planning.
8.
to arrange a method or scheme beforehand for (any work, enterprise, or proceeding):
to plan a new recreation center.
9.
to make plans for:
to plan one's vacation.
10.
to draw or make a diagram or layout of, as a building.
verb (used without object), planned, planning.
11.
to make plans:
to plan ahead; to plan for one's retirement.
Origin
1670-80; < French: ground, plan, groundwork, scheme, noun use of the adj.: flat, plane1, learned borrowing of Latin plānus level (cf. plain1)
Related forms
planless, adjective
planlessly, adverb
planlessness, noun
misplan, verb, misplanned, misplanning.
outplan, verb (used with object), outplanned, outplanning.
overplan, verb, overplanned, overplanning.
preplan, verb, preplanned, preplanning.
replan, verb (used with object), replanned, replanning.
underplan, noun
underplan, verb (used with object), underplanned, underplanning.
unplan, verb (used with object), unplanned, unplanning.
well-planned, adjective
Can be confused
plain, plan, plane (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. plot, formula, system. Plan, project, design, scheme imply a formulated method of doing something. Plan refers to any method of thinking out acts and purposes beforehand: What are your plans for today? A project is a proposed or tentative plan, often elaborate or extensive: an irrigation project. Design suggests art, dexterity, or craft (sometimes evil and selfish) in the elaboration or execution of a plan, and often tends to emphasize the purpose in view: a misunderstanding brought about by design. A scheme is apt to be either a speculative, possibly impracticable, plan, or a selfish or dishonest one: a scheme to swindle someone. 4. sketch, draft, diagram, chart. 8. design, devise, plot.

plan-

1.
variant of plano-1. before a vowel:
planate.
Examples from the web for plan
  • Recently, a new client approached me, wanting help with his business plan.
  • I'm in the process of really trying to figure out how to plan for retirement.
  • His plan has energised the debate on the deficit.
  • Use this guide to plan your trip, from car ride activities to can't-miss-creatures.
  • Shortly afterward, I gathered a number of political friends to begin to plan for the forthcoming campaign.
  • It might be difficult to convince him of the soundness of my plan.
  • It's the most important step to this plan.
  • Some folks plan trips around the chance of seeing wildlife.
  • He did think of the future, he told her, and he'd been making plans.
  • But it was many years before a specific plan occurred to me.
British Dictionary definitions for plan

plan

/plæn/
noun
1.
a detailed scheme, method, etc, for attaining an objective
2.
(sometimes pl) a proposed, usually tentative idea for doing something
3.
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 projection Compare ground plan (sense 1), elevation (sense 5)
4.
an outline, sketch, etc
5.
(in perspective drawing) any of several imaginary planes perpendicular to the line of vision and between the eye and object depicted
verb plans, planning, planned
6.
to form a plan (for) or make plans (for)
7.
(transitive) to make a plan of (a building)
8.
(transitive; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to have in mind as a purpose; intend
Word Origin
C18: via French from Latin plānus flat; compare plane1, plain1
Word Origin and History for plan
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.

plan in Technology
language
Programming LANguage Nineteen hundred.
The assembly language for ICL 1900 series computers.
(1995-03-21)
Idioms and Phrases with plan

plan

In addition to the idiom beginning with plan also see: best-laid plans