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military plane

military plane

8 3.9
A plane used by the armed forces for fighting or protection
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪlɪˌtɛri pleɪn/
translation icon : avión militar
  • On the military plane, initiatives have been taken to ease military confrontation across the strait.

They're building a big runway on one reef that is big enough to take the biggest military plane.

Examples

  • It was against the law for military planes to shoot down unarmed civilian aircraft at the time.

    Blog text (30)
  • In 2013, when Russian military planes entered Swedish airspace during a simulated attack on Stockholm, the capital, Swedish fighter jets did not even manage to scramble.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I saw a military plane land just over here.

  • They have no shortage of military planes.

  • A United States military plane crash-landed in Surrey this evening, just missing Waverley Abbey.

  • Last year, Russian military planes violated Estonian airspace seven times.

    Academic text (2015)
  • And so then you're there and then you take a military plane from Christchurch into Antarctica and you land on a snow packed runway.

  • Shell intends to apply it mostly from the air, specifically from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military plane or from a vessel.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The coup also brought the Shah—who had fled to Rome—back to power aboard a U.S. military plane with the CIA chief at his side.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The military plane delivered supplies to the troops stationed at the front lines.

Synonyms

fighter
vsmilitary plane
  • Specialized
359 4.6

A fast military plane that attacks enemy planes in the air

is broader, used for many armed forces aircraft not limited to air combat
bomber
vsmilitary plane
214 3.7

A military plane that carries and drops bombs

is a more general term for armed aircraft including other roles beyond bombing
warplane
vsmilitary plane
  • Specialized
36 4.8

A plane built to fight in war

is a more general term for armed forces aircraft including defense roles
gunship
vsmilitary plane
  • Specialized
28 6.5

A military plane with heavy weapons that attacks ground targets to support troops

is more general and not limited to heavy weapon ground attack roles
fighter aircraft
vsmilitary plane
  • Specialized
4 4.4

A fast military airplane that attacks enemy planes

is wider, covering armed forces aircraft beyond only air-to-air combat
reconnaissance plane
vsmilitary plane
  • Specialized
3 6.5

A military plane that flies over areas to find out about the enemy

focuses on observing and reporting rather than on combat or defense action
attack aircraft
vsmilitary plane
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A fast military plane that hits enemy targets near the ground

focuses on attack role while the key covers all armed aircraft uses

How Armed

bomber
214 3.7
attack aircraft
  • Specialized
1 4.8
military plane
8 3.9
fighter
  • Specialized
359 4.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

military + plane

The meaning 'an aircraft used by the armed forces' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'military' (relating to soldiers/armed forces) with 'plane' (an aircraft). This adjective + noun composition follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be easily inferred by a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Military plane puts together the word military meaning soldiers and their equipment and the word plane meaning an aircraft. These aircraft are made to carry weapons, troops, or special gear, so the phrase means 'an aircraft used by the armed forces'.