1
a
: an ornamental brooch
especially
: the badge of an honorary order
b
: a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration
c
: a commemorative or identifying inscribed tablet
2
a
: a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface
b
: a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria
c
: an atherosclerotic lesion
d
: a histopathologic lesion of brain tissue that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and consists of a dense proteinaceous core composed primarily of beta-amyloid that is often surrounded and infiltrated by a cluster of degenerating axons and dendrites
3
: a clear area in a bacterial culture produced by viral destruction of cells
Examples of plaque in a Sentence
A bronze plaque marked the city's oldest building.
They gave him a plaque in honor of his 30 years of service.
Brushing your teeth prevents the buildup of plaque.
The scientists are studying the way the plaques form.
Recent Examples on the Web
The handsome plaque is named in honor of Ishi, the last of the ancient Yana Indians, who was the bowhunting teacher of Saxton Pope and Art Young.
—
Ray Alt, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2025
On the other end of the wall, a grid of plaques celebrated the project’s donors.
—Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
The biological cause of AD is linked to the accumulation of amyloid plaques, tau tangles, and synaptic loss in brain regions such as the hippocampus and cortex, which are critical for higher cognitive functions like memory retrieval.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
Tests back home indicated an over abundance of plaque was restricting blood flow to the brain.
—Si Liberman, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plaque
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Ray Alt, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2025
On the other end of the wall, a grid of plaques celebrated the project’s donors.
—Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
The biological cause of AD is linked to the accumulation of amyloid plaques, tau tangles, and synaptic loss in brain regions such as the hippocampus and cortex, which are critical for higher cognitive functions like memory retrieval.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
Tests back home indicated an over abundance of plaque was restricting blood flow to the brain.
—Si Liberman, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plaque
Cite this Entry
“Plaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaque. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plaque
noun1
: an ornamental pin
especially
: an honorary badge
2
: a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration or inscribed as a memorial or marker
3
: a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and contains bacteria
Medical Definition
plaque
noun
variants
also placque
1
a
: a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface and especially on the skin
psoriatic plaque
b
: a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria
c
: an atherosclerotic lesion
d
: a histopathologic lesion of brain tissue that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and consists of a dense proteinaceous core composed primarily of beta-amyloid that is often surrounded and infiltrated by a cluster of degenerating axons and dendrites
called also senile plaque
2
: a visibly distinct and especially a clear or opaque area in a bacterial culture produced by damage to or destruction of cells by a virus
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