Plan vs. Idea

Plan vs. Idea — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Plan and Idea

Plannoun

A drawing showing technical details of a building, machine, etc., with unwanted details omitted, and often using symbols rather than detailed drawing to represent doors, valves, etc.

The plans for many important buildings were once publicly available.

Ideanoun

(philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.

Plannoun

A set of intended actions, usually mutually related, through which one expects to achieve a goal.

He didn't really have a plan; he had a goal and a habit of control.

Ideanoun

(obsolete) The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.

Plannoun

A two-dimensional drawing of a building as seen from above with obscuring or irrelevant details such as roof removed, or of a floor of a building, revealing the internal layout; as distinct from the elevation.

Seen in plan, the building had numerous passageways not apparent to visitors.

Ideanoun

(obsolete) The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.

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Plannoun

A method; a way of procedure; a custom.

Ideanoun

An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.

The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.

Plannoun

A subscription to a service; e.g., a phone plan, an Internet plan.

Ideanoun

More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.

Planverb

(transitive) To design (a building, machine, etc.).

The architect planned the building for the client.

Ideanoun

A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.

I have an idea of how we might escape.
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Planverb

(transitive) To create a plan for.

They jointly planned the project in phases, with good detail for the first month.

Ideanoun

A purposeful aim or goal; intent

If you keep sweet-talking her like that, you're going to talk her right out of her pants.

Planverb

(intransitive) To intend.

He planned to go, but work intervened.

Ideanoun

A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression.

He had the wild idea that if he leant forward a little, he might be able to touch the mountain-top.

Planverb

See plan on.

I was planning on going, but something came up.

Ideanoun

(music) A musical theme or melodic subject.

Planverb

(intransitive) To make a plan.

They planned for the worst, bringing lots of emergency supplies.

Ideanoun

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about;

it was not a good ideathe thought never entered my mind

Plannoun

a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished;

they drew up a six-step planthey discussed plans for a new bond issue

Ideanoun

a personal view;

he has an idea that we don't like him

Plannoun

an arrangement scheme;

the awkward design of the keyboard made operation difficultit was an excellent design for livinga plan for seating guests

Ideanoun

an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth;

an estimate of what it would costa rough idea how long it would take

Plannoun

scale drawing of a structure;

the plans for City Hall were on file

Ideanoun

your intention; what you intend to do;

he had in mind to see his old teacherthe idea of the game is to capture all the pieces

Planverb

have the will and intention to carry out some action;

He plans to be in graduate school next yearThe rebels had planned turmoil and confusion

Ideanoun

(music) melodic subject of a musical composition;

the theme is announced in the first measuresthe accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it

Planverb

make plans for something;

He is planning a trip with his family

Planverb

make or work out a plan for; devise;

They contrived to murder their bossdesign a new sales strategyplan an attack

Planverb

make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form;

design a better mousetrapplan the new wing of the museum