compass plane
- noun
- Specialized
:
garlopa de compás
- The woodworker used a compass plane to smooth the inside of the curved chair seat.
Examples
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Because of its flexible sole, the compass plane can adapt to both concave and convex shapes.
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A compass plane is ideal for shaping convex surfaces like the edge of a tabletop.
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The carpenter used a compass plane to shape the wood.
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Have you ever tried a compass plane for your projects?
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A compass plane is ideal for shaping convex surfaces like the edge of a tabletop.
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Because of its flexible sole, the compass plane can adapt to both concave and convex shapes.
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The woodworker used a compass plane to smooth the inside of the curved chair seat.
Synonyms
97
7.1
A hand tool with a sharp blade for smoothing wood
A woodworking tool with a curved, flexible base for shaping rounded wood
A small hand tool that makes wood surfaces even and fine
A small hand tool that makes wood surfaces smooth
A hand tool with a sharp adjustable blade for smoothing and shaping wood surfaces
A hand tool with an adjustable blade used to smooth or shape wood
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun combines 'plane' (a woodworking tool) with 'compass' (an instrument for drawing arcs), so a learner who knows both words can infer the tool has something to do with shaping or smoothing curves. However, the specific sense — a plane with a flexible/curved sole for concave or convex surfaces — is a technical extension not fully predictable from the constituents, making the meaning only partially transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
Compass plane is named for how the tool works: compass brings to mind round curves and a plane is a smoothing tool, so its flexible bottom bends to follow a curve the way a compass draws a circle. That's why a compass plane is used to smooth 'concave or convex surfaces'.