plank

A long, wide, thick, flat piece of wood used for building things.

• We need a long plank.
• Two planks were missing from the bridge.
• He nailed a wooden plank across the broken window.

Similar words: board

Common phrases: wooden plank, plank of wood, loose plank, floor plank

An exercise where you hold your body straight above the floor, resting on your toes and arms.

• Hold a plank for thirty seconds.
• She does planks every morning.
• Can you keep your back straight during a side plank?

Common phrases: do a plank, hold a plank, side plank, plank position

One of the main policies or ideas that a political party supports.

• Education is a central plank of their policy.
• The party added a new environmental plank to its platform.
• Which planks of the manifesto attracted younger voters?

How to use it: a plank of/in something (Tax reform is a key plank in the party's platform.)

Similar words: policy, policy position

Common phrases: central plank, key plank, plank of policy, plank in something

A flat wooden board used to cook fish, adding flavor from the wood.

• Soak the plank before cooking.
• We grilled salmon on a cedar plank.
• The wooden plank gave the fish a smoky flavor.

Similar words: cooking board

Common phrases: cedar plank, grilling plank, salmon on a plank

Something that provides support or helps to keep something going.

• Trust was the last plank supporting their friendship.
• Her savings became a plank of support during the crisis.
• Each small success added another plank to his fragile confidence.

Similar words: support, prop, mainstay

Common phrases: plank of support, last plank, supporting plank

A thick, solid piece of food with a flat side, cooked and served as one piece.

• The tofu was cut into planks.
• A grilled plank of cauliflower filled the plate.
• She served the vegetable planks with a lemon sauce.

How to use it: a plank of something (The chef served a thick plank of roasted cauliflower.)

Similar words: slab, thick slice

Common phrases: plank of cauliflower, plank of tofu, roasted vegetable plank

To cover a surface with long, flat pieces of wood.

• They planked the floor.
• Workers are planking the ship's hull.
• We plan to plank the deck with local timber.

How to use it: plank something with something (They planked the deck with oak.)

Similar words: board, board over

Common phrases: plank a floor, plank a deck, plank a ship

To put something down firmly, especially money that you pay or risk in a bet.

• He planked his money on the table.
• She planked down five pounds and joined the game.
• They refused to plank down any more cash.

How to use it: plank something down (He planked fifty dollars down on the table.)

Similar words: put down, lay down, stake

Common phrases: plank down money, plank down cash, plank something down