from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Plane \Plane\, a. [L. planus: cf. F. plan. See {Plan}, a.]
Without elevations or depressions; even; level; flat; lying
in, or constituting, a plane; as, a plane surface.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In science, this word (instead of plain) is almost
exclusively used to designate a flat or level surface.
[1913 Webster]
{Plane angle}, the angle included between two straight lines
in a plane.
{Plane chart}, {Plane curve}. See under {Chart} and {Curve}.
{Plane figure}, a figure all points of which lie in the same
plane. If bounded by straight lines it is a rectilinear
plane figure, if by curved lines it is a curvilinear plane
figure.
{Plane geometry}, that part of geometry which treats of the
relations and properties of plane figures.
{Plane problem}, a problem which can be solved geometrically
by the aid of the right line and circle only.
{Plane sailing} (Naut.), the method of computing a ship's
place and course on the supposition that the earth's
surface is a plane.
{Plane scale} (Naut.), a scale for the use of navigators, on
which are graduated chords, sines, tangents, secants,
rhumbs, geographical miles, etc.
{Plane surveying}, surveying in which the curvature of the
earth is disregarded; ordinary field and topographical
surveying of tracts of moderate extent.
{Plane table}, an instrument used for plotting the lines of a
survey on paper in the field.
{Plane trigonometry}, the branch of trigonometry in which its
principles are applied to plane triangles.
[1913 Webster]