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Glite Dictionary
London plane

London plane

5.8
A large fast-growing tree with bark that peels, planted along city streets because it tolerates pollution
  • noun
  • /ˈlʌndən pleɪn/
translation icon : plátano de Londres
  • The London plane is a popular choice for urban gardens due to its resilience to pollution.
  • London plane tree

Examples

  • The car was a two-tone, metal-flecked brown, and as it moved quietly down the road, the tall London plane trees sped across the fenders and doors in deformed reflections.

    Academic text (1991)

  • In the park, several London plane trees provide shade for families during hot summer days.

  • The city council planted new London plane trees along the streets to improve air quality.

Synonyms

Platanus acerifolia
vsLondon plane
  • Specialized
9.1

A large fast-growing tree with broad leaves often planted on streets to give shade

is the everyday common name used for the same street tree

Surface Forms

London plane singular
London planes plural

Morphology

London + plane

This is a lexicalized species name: 'London plane' is a proper noun for a specific tree and the sense of 'plane' as 'plane tree' is a low-frequency, botanical meaning. A B1 learner who knows 'London' and the common senses of 'plane' (aircraft or flat surface) would not reliably infer 'a large pollution-tolerant street tree', so the meaning is not compositionally predictable.

Etymology

London plane comes from the large plane trees people planted all over London streets; these trees could stand dirty city air and grow fast. That's why London plane now means a big 'street' 'tree' that can live in city 'pollution'.