/ plæn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
INTENTION
1.
plan (for sth) | plan (to do sth) something that you intend to do or achieve :
Do you have any plans for the summer?
There are no plans to build new offices.
Your best plan (= the best thing to do) would be to go by car.
There's been a change of plan .
We can't change our plans now.
➡ note at purpose
ARRANGEMENT
2.
plan (for sth) | plan (to do sth) a set of things to do in order to achieve sth, especially one that has been considered in detail in advance :
Both sides agreed to a detailed plan for keeping the peace.
The government has announced plans to create one million new training places.
a development / business / peace, etc. plan
a five-point plan
a three-year plan
We need to make plans for the future.
a plan of action / campaign
Let's hope everything will go according to plan .
—see also master plan
MAP
3.
a detailed map of a building, town, etc. :
a plan of the museum
a street plan of the city
DRAWING
4.
[especially pl. ] plan (for / of sth) ( technical ) a detailed drawing of a machine, building, etc. that shows its size, shape and measurements :
The architect is drawing up plans for the new offices.
—compare elevation (4), ground plan
5.
a diagram that shows how sth will be arranged :
a seating plan (= showing where each person will sit, for example at a dinner)
a floor plan (= showing how furniture is arranged)
MONEY
6.
(especially in compounds) a way of investing money for the future :
a savings plan
■ verb
( -nn- )
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
1.
plan (sth) (for sth) to make detailed arrangements for sth you want to do in the future :
[ vn ]
to plan a trip
A meeting has been planned for early next year.
Everything went exactly as planned .
We planned the day down to the last detail.
[ v ]
to plan for the future
[ v wh- ]
I've been planning how I'm going to spend the day.
[ v that ]
They planned that the two routes would connect.
INTEND / EXPECT
2.
plan (on sth / on doing sth) to intend or expect to do sth :
[ v ]
We hadn't planned on going anywhere this evening.
[ v to inf ]
They plan to arrive some time after three.
[ vn ]
We're planning a trip to France in the spring—are you interested?
DESIGN
3.
[ vn ] to make a design or an outline for sth :
to plan an essay / a garden
a well-planned campaign
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- plan sth out
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from French , from earlier plant ground plan, plane surface, influenced in sense by Italian pianta plan of building. Compare with plant .