What does planing mean?
Planing is most commonly the present participle of the verb "plane," meaning to smooth a wooden surface by shaving off thin layers with a woodworking tool. It can also be used as a noun for that process: careful planing produces a flat, even finish and is often a necessary preparation for joinery or finishing. The word has a more specialized secondary meaning in transport contexts, describing a boat or aircraft moving along a surface at speed. In this sense, planing distinguishes a mode of movement in which the craft rises partly above the water or relies on aerodynamic lift. The term is therefore both a practical woodworking operation and a concise description of movement in nautical and aviation language. It should not be confused with planning, which concerns deciding or organizing future actions rather than smoothing a physical surface.
To shave or smooth a surface, especially wood, with a plane.
"She was planing the boards before fitting them into the cabinet."
A technical woodworking term. The tool used is called a plane.
The action or process of smoothing a surface with a plane, or the state of moving along a surface at speed.
"The finish of the table improved after a final round of planing."
The woodworking and transport senses are distinct; the latter is usually used in phrases such as "on planing" or "at planing speed."
The hum of a hand plane is the sound of wood being transformed into a smooth, even surface.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does planing come from?
The word derives from the verb "plane," which comes through Old French and Latin from a root associated with a flat or level surface. The same broad Latin source also underlies related words such as "plan," "plank," and "plant." In woodworking, "planing" developed as a descriptive gerund for smoothing wood with a plane; in transport terminology, it was extended to describe movement along a supporting surface.
Related word forms
How planing is actually used
In woodworking, "planing" is a technical process involving a plane. In nautical and aviation contexts, it describes movement along a surface or through the air, especially at sufficient speed for lift or reduced resistance.
Easily confused with planing
Planing means smoothing a surface with a tool, whereas planning means arranging or deciding how something will be done.