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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

aeroplane \aer"*o*plane`\ aeroplane \a"["e]r*o*plane`\, n.
[a["e]ro- plane.] (A["e]ronautics)
1. A light rigid plane used in a["e]rial navigation to oppose
sudden upward or downward movement in the air, as in
gliding machines; specif., such a plane slightly inclined
and driven forward as a lifting device in some flying
machines. Also called {airfoil}.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

2. Hence: A heavier-than-air flying machine using such a
device to provide lift; an airplane. In a modern
aeroplane, the airfoils are called the {wings}, and most
of the lift is derived from these surfaces. In contrast to
helicopters, the wings are fixed to the passenger
compartment (airframe) and do not move relative to the
frame; thus such a machine is called a {fixed-wing
aircraft}. These machines are called monoplanes, biplanes,
triplanes, or quadruplanes, according to the number of
main supporting planes (wings) used in their construction.
After 1940 few planes with more than one airfoil were
constructed, and these are used by hobbyists or for
special purposes. Being heavier than air they depend for
their levitation on motion imparted by the thrust from
either propellers driven by an engine, or, in a jet plane,
by the reaction from a high-velocity stream of gases
expelled rearward from a jet engine. They start from the
ground by a run on small wheels or runners, and are guided
by a steering apparatus consisting of horizontal and
vertical movable planes, which usually form part of the
wings or tail. There are many varieties of form and
construction, which in some cases are known by the names
of their inventors. In U.S., an aeroplane is usually
called an {airplane} or {plane}.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. PJC]