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plan definition

plan (plan)

noun

  1. a drawing or diagram showing the arrangement in horizontal section of a structure, piece of ground, etc.
    1. a scheme or program for making, doing, or arranging something; project, design, schedule, etc.
    2. a method of proceeding
  3. any outline or sketch
  4. in perspective, any of several planes thought of as perpendicular to the line of sight and between the eye and the object

Etymology: Fr, plan, plane, foundation: merging of plan (< L planus: see plain) with MFr plant < It pianta < L planta, sole of the foot: see plant

transitive verb planned, planning plan′·ning

  1. to make a plan of (a structure, piece of ground, etc.)
  2. to devise a scheme for doing, making, or arranging
  3. to have in mind as a project or purpose

intransitive verb

to make plans

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business plan definition - business

idioms plan idiom

plan Synonyms

plan

n.

  1. A preliminary sketch

    draft, diagram, map, chart, delineation, time line, design, blueprint, outline, representation, form, drawing, view, projection, rough draft, road map*; see also design 1, sketch 1.

  2. A proposed sequence of action

    scheme, project, design, outline, program, idea, conception, flow chart, projection, undertaking, method, system, tactics, procedure, treatment, intention, purpose, proposal, policy, course of action, plot, conspiracy, strategy, stratagem, arrangement, way of doing things, itinerary, prospectus, blueprint, schema, scenario, game plan*; see also program 2, purpose 1.

  3. Arrangement

    layout, method, disposition; see order 3.

plan refers to any detailed method or program, formulated beforehand, for doing or making something vacation plans; design stresses an intention to achieve a desired effect and implies the use of skill or craft, sometimes in an unfavorable sense, in arranging this it was his design to separate us; project suggests an ambitious or extensive plan calling for enterprise or effort, and may refer either to the proposal or to the final outcomea research project; scheme often connotes either an impractical, visionary plan or an underhanded intrigue a scheme to embezzle the funds


plan

v.

  1. To plot an action in advance

    prepare, scheme, devise, invent, outline, project, contrive, shape, design, map, plot, form a plan, think out, engineer, figure on, figure for, intrigue, conspire, frame, concoct, steer one's course, set guidelines, establish parameters, work up, work out, line up, plan an attack, come through, calculate on, be at, make arrangements, put up a job, reckon on, ready up, take measures, lay in provisions, bargain for, cook up*, fix to*, fix for*, pack the deal*, bore from within*, dope out*, put on ice*.

  2. To arrange in a preliminary way

    outline, draft, sketch, lay out, map out, organize, prepare a sketch, chart, map, draw, trace, design, illustrate, depict, delineate, represent, shape, preprint, chalk out, rough in, block out, block in.

  3. To have in mind

    propose, think, purpose; see intend 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

plan Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • announce: David Blunkett, the Minister for the Interior, announces plans to introduce an identity card.

Adjective modifier

  • strategic: The design for the development has emerged from the university's strategic development plan for its Plymouth campus.

Noun used with modifier

  • action: Why not re-launch your Local Compact, a new action plan or launch a Local Code of good practice?

Preposition: of

  • salvation: God had a plan of salvation from the moment that sin entered the world.

Preposition: for

  • future: Again, we need a plan for the economic future of our area.
plan usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

plan quotes

I don't have a moral plan. I'm a Canadian.

-Cronenberg, David

I have observed, in the course of a dishonest life, that when a rogue is outlining a treacherous plan, he works harder to convince himself than to move his hearers.

-Fraser, George MacDonald

When I went to the Bar as a very young man, (Said I to myselfösaid I), I'll work on a new and original plan, (Said I to myselfösaid I).

-Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

plan quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"plan." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/plan>

APA Style

plan. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/plan

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