What does volplane mean?
Volplane is a literary verb meaning to fly or glide with the wings fully extended. It is especially associated with the broad, apparently motionless movement of hawks, eagles, falcons, and other large birds as they ride air currents, though the word is not limited to birds of prey. A writer may say that an eagle volplanes above a cliff or that a falcon begins to volplane toward a field. The verb is considerably more common in older English and descriptive writing than in everyday contemporary speech, and it gives its subject a stately, controlled quality. That impression comes partly from the movement itself and partly from the word's French ancestry: English borrowed volplane from French volplaner, associated with voler, to fly, and planer, to glide. Volplane is therefore more evocative than a general synonym such as glide or soar. It highlights the extended wings and sustained aerial travel that distinguish a gliding bird from one actively flapping or diving.
verb (intransitive)To fly or glide with the wings fully extended, especially as a bird.
- To fly or glide with the wings fully extended, especially as a bird.
"The hawk volplanes above the cliff before turning toward its prey."
"An eagle volplaned in broad circles above the mountains."
"The falcon began to volplane toward the field as the wind strengthened."
A hawk does not merely glide; it volplanes—a grand, wing-spread suspension between one beat and the next.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of volplane
The English verb volplane comes from French volplaner. The French verb combines voler, meaning to fly, with planer, meaning to glide, reflecting the movement of a bird traveling through the air on outstretched wings. Volplane entered English in the early 19th century and became especially associated with literary descriptions of birds in sustained, wide-winged flight.
Related word forms
How volplane is actually used
This rare literary verb is especially associated with the controlled gliding flight of hawks, eagles, and other large birds. It evokes sustained flight on outstretched wings rather than active flapping, diving, or hovering.