2. Hence: A heavier-than-air flying machine using such a device to provide lift; an airplane. In a modern aeroplane, the airfoils are called the wings, and most of the lift is derived from these surfaces. In contrast to helicopters, the wings are fixed to the passenger compartment (airframe) and do not move relative to the frame; thus such a machine is called a fixed-wing aircraft. These machines are called monoplanes, biplanes, triplanes, or quadruplanes, according to the number of main supporting planes (wings) used in their construction. After 1940 few planes with more than one airfoil were constructed, and these are used by hobbyists or for special purposes. Being heavier than air they depend for their levitation on motion imparted by the thrust from either propellers driven by an engine, or, in a jet plane, by the reaction from a high-velocity stream of gases expelled rearward from a jet engine. They start from the ground by a run on small wheels or runners, and are guided by a steering apparatus consisting of horizontal and vertical movable planes, which usually form part of the wings or tail. There are many varieties of form and construction, which in some cases are known by the names of their inventors. In U.S., an aeroplane is usually called an airplane or plane. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

☞ The “Florida moss” (Tillandsia, many tropical orchids, and most mosses and lichens are air plants. Those which are lodged upon trees, but not parasitic on them, such as the Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides), are epiphytes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Allantoic acid. (Chem.) See Allantoin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Anguillans or Anguilla; as, The Anguillan population of the islands. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Aplanatic focus of a lens (Opt.), the point or focus from which rays diverging pass the lens without spherical aberration. In certain forms of lenses there are two such foci; and it is by taking advantage of this fact that the best aplanatic object glasses of microscopes are constructed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Party appellant (Law), the party who appeals; appellant; -- opposed to respondent, or appellee. Tomlins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A challenger. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl. Hist.) One who appealed to a general council against the bull Unigenitus. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. One who appeals or entreats. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The shaft ] drove through his neck aslant. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a willow grows aslant a brook. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

An assailant of the church. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Care I for the . . . stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man? Give me the spirit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assembling; assemblage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To weete [ know ] the cause of their assemblance. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]