plan
♦♦♦ plan /pl'æn/ (plans planning planned)
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, also according to N
A plan is a method of achieving something that you have worked out in detail beforehand.
The three leaders had worked out a peace plan...
...a detailed plan of action for restructuring the group...
He maintains that everything is going according to plan.
2 [VERB] V wh, V to-inf, V for n, V n, V-ed
If you plan what you are going to do, you decide in detail what you are going to do, and you intend to do it.
If you plan what you're going to eat, you reduce your chances of overeating...
He planned to leave Baghdad on Monday...
It would be difficult for schools to plan for the future...
I had been planning a trip to the West Coast...
A planned demonstration has been called off by its organisers.
3 [N-PLURAL] usu with supp, oft N for n/-ing, N to-inf
If you have plans, you are intending to do a particular thing.
`I'm sorry,' she said. `I have plans for tonight.'
4 [VERB] V n
When you plan something that you are going to make, build, or create, you decide what the main parts of it will be and do a drawing of how it should be made.
We are planning a new kitchen.
5 [N-COUNT] oft N of/for n
A plan of something that is going to be built or made is a detailed diagram or drawing of it.
...when you have drawn a plan of the garden.
6
see also planningbusi|ness plan (business plans)
[N-COUNT]
A business plan is a detailed plan for setting up or developing a business, especially one that is written in order to borrow money.
She learned how to write a business plan for the catering business she wanted to launch.game plan (game plans)
also game-plan
1 [N-COUNT] usu poss N
In sport, a team's game plan is their plan for winning a match.
Leeds kept quiet, stuck to their game plan and quietly racked up the points.
2 [N-COUNT] oft poss N
Someone's game plan is the actions they intend to take and the policies they intend to adopt in order to achieve a particular thing.
If he has a game plan for winning the deal, only he understands it...
He is unlikely to alter his game plan.ground plan (ground plans)
1 [N-COUNT]
In British English, a ground plan is a plan of the ground floor of a building. In American English, a ground plan is a plan of any floor of a building.
2 [N-COUNT]
A ground plan is a basic plan for future action.in|stall|ment plan (installment plans)
[N-COUNT]
An installment plan is a way of buying goods gradually. You make regular payments to the seller until, after some time, you have paid the full price and the goods belong to you. (AM; in BRIT, use hire purchase)mas|ter plan (master plans)
[N-COUNT]
A master plan is a clever plan that is intended to help someone succeed in a very difficult or important task.
...the master plan for the reform of the economy.pen|sion plan (pension plans)
[N-COUNT]
A pension plan is an arrangement to receive a pension from an organization such as an insurance company or a former employer in return for making regular payments to them over a number of years. (BUSINESS)
I would have been much wiser to start my own pension plan when I was younger.plan on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P -ing/n
If you plan on doing something, you intend to do it.
They were planning on getting married...
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, also according to N
A plan is a method of achieving something that you have worked out in detail beforehand.
The three leaders had worked out a peace plan...
...a detailed plan of action for restructuring the group...
He maintains that everything is going according to plan.
2 [VERB] V wh, V to-inf, V for n, V n, V-ed
If you plan what you are going to do, you decide in detail what you are going to do, and you intend to do it.
If you plan what you're going to eat, you reduce your chances of overeating...
He planned to leave Baghdad on Monday...
It would be difficult for schools to plan for the future...
I had been planning a trip to the West Coast...
A planned demonstration has been called off by its organisers.
3 [N-PLURAL] usu with supp, oft N for n/-ing, N to-inf
If you have plans, you are intending to do a particular thing.
`I'm sorry,' she said. `I have plans for tonight.'
4 [VERB] V n
When you plan something that you are going to make, build, or create, you decide what the main parts of it will be and do a drawing of how it should be made.
We are planning a new kitchen.
5 [N-COUNT] oft N of/for n
A plan of something that is going to be built or made is a detailed diagram or drawing of it.
...when you have drawn a plan of the garden.
6
see also planningbusi|ness plan (business plans)
[N-COUNT]
A business plan is a detailed plan for setting up or developing a business, especially one that is written in order to borrow money.
She learned how to write a business plan for the catering business she wanted to launch.game plan (game plans)
also game-plan
1 [N-COUNT] usu poss N
In sport, a team's game plan is their plan for winning a match.
Leeds kept quiet, stuck to their game plan and quietly racked up the points.
2 [N-COUNT] oft poss N
Someone's game plan is the actions they intend to take and the policies they intend to adopt in order to achieve a particular thing.
If he has a game plan for winning the deal, only he understands it...
He is unlikely to alter his game plan.ground plan (ground plans)
1 [N-COUNT]
In British English, a ground plan is a plan of the ground floor of a building. In American English, a ground plan is a plan of any floor of a building.
2 [N-COUNT]
A ground plan is a basic plan for future action.in|stall|ment plan (installment plans)
[N-COUNT]
An installment plan is a way of buying goods gradually. You make regular payments to the seller until, after some time, you have paid the full price and the goods belong to you. (AM; in BRIT, use hire purchase)mas|ter plan (master plans)
[N-COUNT]
A master plan is a clever plan that is intended to help someone succeed in a very difficult or important task.
...the master plan for the reform of the economy.pen|sion plan (pension plans)
[N-COUNT]
A pension plan is an arrangement to receive a pension from an organization such as an insurance company or a former employer in return for making regular payments to them over a number of years. (BUSINESS)
I would have been much wiser to start my own pension plan when I was younger.plan on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P -ing/n
If you plan on doing something, you intend to do it.
They were planning on getting married...