PLANE

n. & v. --n. 1 a tool consisting of a wooden or metal block with a projecting steel blade, used to smooth a wooden surface by paring shavings from it. 2 a similar tool for smoothing metal. --v.tr. 1 smooth (wood, metal, etc.) with a plane. 2 (often foll. by away, down) pare (irregularities) with a plane. 3 archaic level (plane the way). [ME f. OF var. of plaine f. LL plana f. L planus PLAIN(1)]