plan
plan — noun
1. an arrangement you decide on in advance for reaching a future result.
an arrangement you decide on in advance for reaching a future result.
Our class made a plan for the beach clean-up next Saturday.
pattern: a plan for something
Mina shared her plan to open a small cake shop.
pattern: a plan to do something
The coach changed his game plan after two players got sick.
Without a clear plan, the team wasted half the morning moving boxes twice.
- improvisation
acting without preparing in advance
- chance
events happening without control or arrangement
文法句型
a plan for something
a plan to do something
用法筆記
Often appears with 'for' before a goal and 'to' before an action. Distinguish from noun sense 3: this sense is the arrangement itself, not whether events follow it.
2. a formal way to save, invest, insure, or pay money over time.
a formal way to save, invest, insure, or pay money over time.
His company offers a pension plan after three years of work.
collocation: pension plan
The hospital gave us a payment plan for the surgery bill.
collocation: payment plan
Nina started a savings plan when her son was born.
This travel insurance plan covers lost bags and delayed flights.
文法句型
a savings plan
a payment plan
a pension plan
用法筆記
Usually follows a word showing the type of arrangement, such as 'pension', 'savings', 'payment', or 'insurance'. Distinguish from noun sense 1, which can describe any future arrangement, not specifically one about money.
3. the expected way events should happen, especially in fixed phrases about things
the expected way events should happen, especially in fixed phrases about things going right.
Nothing went to plan after the bus broke down in Taichung.
fixed phrase: go to plan
Dinner went exactly to plan until the lights went out.
According to plan, the band will start at eight in the park.
If all goes to plan, Leo will finish the bridge today.
- expectation
more general and not tied to fixed phrases
- schedule
focuses on timing rather than the whole intended course of events
文法句型
go to plan
according to plan
if all goes to plan
用法筆記
Mostly appears in set phrases rather than alone as a regular noun. 'Go to plan' is especially British; many American speakers more often say 'go as planned' or 'go according to plan'.
4. a drawing that shows a room, building, town, or machine from above.
a drawing that shows a room, building, town, or machine from above.
The fire exit is marked on the plan by the front door.
plan showing position on a layout
Ella spread the garden plan across the kitchen table.
collocation: garden plan
The museum plan helped us find the children's room on level three.
A site plan showed where the new trees would stand.
- elevation
a drawing that shows the side of a building instead of the top
文法句型
a plan of something
floor plan
site plan
用法筆記
Often modified by the place or object shown, as in 'floor plan', 'street plan', or 'site plan'. Distinguish from noun sense 5: this sense is one view of a layout, while sense 5 is the full working drawings used to build something.
5. the detailed drawings builders or makers use to produce something.
the detailed drawings builders or makers use to produce something.
The workers checked the plans before pouring the concrete.
usually plural: the plans
Anika kept the shed plans in a blue folder by her desk.
The bridge plans show every cable and support beam.
No one can build the new kitchen without approved plans.
- blueprints
traditional name for technical building drawings
- drawings
general term, less specific about practical use
- specifications
written technical details that often accompany the drawings
文法句型
the plans for something
draw up plans
approved plans
用法筆記
Usually plural when referring to the whole set of drawings for a building, machine, or other object. Distinguish from noun sense 4: this sense includes the measurements and details needed for making or building.
常見錯誤
plan — verb
1. to decide in advance what steps something will need and how you will do it.
to decide in advance what steps something will need and how you will do it.
We planned the trip on a big map after dinner.
pattern: plan something
Judy spent Sunday planning how to use the small garden.
pattern: plan how to do something
The chef planned a simple menu for the school fair.
Before storm season, village leaders planned for clean water during power cuts.
- improvise
to act without working out the steps first
文法句型
plan something
plan for something
plan how/when/where to do something
用法筆記
Often takes an object naming the activity, trip, event, or project, and it can also take a wh-clause. Distinguish from verb sense 2: this sense stresses arranging the details, not just having the intention.
2. to have decided that you will do something later, or that something else will ha
to have decided that you will do something later, or that something else will happen.
I plan to call Grandma after I reach Kaohsiung.
pattern: plan to do something
We plan to stay only one night in Taitung.
The school plans to open two new science labs.
Mason plans a quiet weekend at home with his dog.
文法句型
plan to do something
plan something
用法筆記
Most often followed by a to-infinitive when the next word is another verb. Distinguish from verb sense 1: here the main idea is intention, even when the details are not yet worked out.
常見錯誤
3. to draw and decide the shape and arrangement of a building or place.
to draw and decide the shape and arrangement of a building or place.
A local architect planned the new library beside the river.
pattern: plan a building
The hotel owners hired Mei to plan the kitchen.
pattern: plan a room
The engineer planned a wooden bridge across the stream.
Rina planned the market square with wider walking paths.
文法句型
plan a building
plan a room
plan a town square
用法筆記
Object is usually a building, room, bridge, road, or other physical space. Distinguish from verb sense 1: that sense can describe any activity, while this sense is specifically about designing a place or structure.