plate

1 of 2

noun

ˈplāt 

plural plates

1

a

: a smooth flat thin piece of material

b(1)

: forged, rolled, or cast metal in sheets usually thicker than ¹/₄ inch (6 millimeters)

(2)

: a very thin layer of metal deposited on a surface of base metal by plating

c

: one of the broad metal pieces used in armor

also : armor of such plates

d(1)

: a thin relatively flat anatomical part (such as a lamina of bone) of an animal body

especially : scute

(2)

: the thin under portion of the forequarter of beef

especially : the fatty back part see beef illustration

e

: home plate

f

: any of the large movable segments into which the earth's lithosphere is divided according to the theory of plate tectonics

2

[Middle English; partly from Anglo-French plate plate, bullion; partly from Old Spanish plata silver, from Vulgar Latin *platta metal plate, from feminine of plattus flat]

a

obsolete : a silver coin

b

: precious metal

especially : silver bullion

3

[Middle English, from Anglo-French plat, plate dish, plate, from plat flat]

a

: domestic hollowware made of or plated with gold, silver, or base metals

b

: a shallow usually circular vessel from which food is eaten or served

c(1)

: a quantity to fill a plate : plateful

(2)

: a main course served on a plate

(3)

: food and service supplied to one person

a dinner at $10 a plate

d(1)

: a prize given to the winner in a contest

(2)

British : a horse race in which the contestants compete for a prize of fixed value rather than stakes

e

: a dish or pouch passed during collections

f

: a flat glass or plastic dish used chiefly for culturing cells and microorganisms

especially : petri dish see also agar plate

4

a

: a prepared surface from which printing is done

b

: a sheet of material (such as glass or plastic) coated with a light-sensitive photographic emulsion

c

: a metallic grid with its interstices filled with active material that forms one of the structural units of a battery

d

: license plate

5

: a horizontal structural member that provides bearing and anchorage especially for the trusses of a roof or the rafters

6

: the part of a denture that fits to the mouth

broadly : denture

7

: a full-page illustration often on different paper from the text pages

8

: a schedule of matters to deal with

have a lot on my plate now

platelike

ˈplāt-ˌlīk 

adjective

plate

2 of 2

verb

plated; plating

transitive verb

1

: to cover or equip with plate: such as

a

: to provide with armor plate

b

: to cover with an adherent layer mechanically, chemically, or electrically

also : to deposit (something, such as a layer) on a surface

2

: to make a printing surface from or for

3

: to fix or secure with a plate

4

: to cause (a runner) to score in baseball

5

: to arrange (food) on a plate or dish

Phrases

on a plate

: without having been earned : as a gift

goals were handed to them on a plate

Synonyms

Noun

• lamella
• lamina
• scale

Examples of plate in a Sentence

Noun

a plate of cheese and crackers

I ate a salad and a plate of spaghetti.

A shiny metal plate was screwed to the door.

He had a steel plate put in his shoulder after the accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Chocolate chips from each bag were poured onto a plate for editors to scoop and label on their own plate, then eat and compare. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024

This led to the creation of the long-lasting custom of children hanging up stockings or leaving a plate out on St. Nicholas Eve. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

Everything is beautifully plated, from the scallops aguachile in a bright aji sauce to crispy ceviche with fresh yellowtail and crunchy corn kernels. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024

What To Do With Turkey Wings After Roasting When plating your turkey, whether to include the wings on the platter is a matter of personal preference. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from plate, feminine of plat flat, from Vulgar Latin *plattus, probably from Greek platys broad, flat — more at place

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plate

• agar plate
• at the plate
• bite plate
• blue plate
• cell plate
• clean one's plate
• end plate
• equatorial plate
• fashion plate
• home plate
• hot plate
• license plate
• metaphase plate
• neural plate
• number plate
• on one's plate
• plate glass
• plate rail
• plate tectonics
• sieve plate
• silver plate
• step up to the plate
• tin-plate
• vanity plate
• wall plate

Kids Definition

plate

1 of 2 noun

ˈplāt 

1

a

: a flat thin piece of material

b

: metal in sheets

steel plate

c

: a thin layer of one metal deposited on another

2

a

: one of the broad metal pieces used in armor

b

: armor made of plates

3

: a usually flat bony or horny bodily part forming part of a covering of an animal (as some fishes or reptiles)

4

: home plate

5

: any of the huge movable segments into which the earth's lithosphere is divided and which are held to float on and travel over the mantle

6

a

: precious metal

especially : silver bullion

b

: vessels (as bowls or cups) used in the home and made of or plated with precious metal (as silver)

7

a

: a shallow usually circular dish from which food is eaten or served

b

: a main food course served on a plate

a plate of spaghetti

c

: food and service for one person

a dinner at $10 a plate

d

: a dish or pouch used in taking a collection (as in a church)

8

a

: a prepared surface from which printing is done

b

: a sheet of material (as plastic or glass) coated with a chemical sensitive to light for use in a camera

9

: license plate

10

: the part of a denture that holds the false teeth and fits to the mouth

also : a set of false teeth

11

: a full-page illustration

an art book with color plates

platelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

plate

2 of 2 verb

plated; plating

: to cover or equip with plate

plate the teapot with silver

Medical Definition

plate

1 of 2 noun

ˈplāt 

1

: a thin relatively flat piece or lamina (as of bone) that is part of the body

2

: a flat glass or plastic dish used chiefly for culturing cells and microorganisms

especially : petri dish see also agar plate

3

: a supporting or reinforcing element: as

a

: the part of a denture that fits in the mouth

broadly : denture

b

: a thin flat narrow piece of metal (as stainless steel) that is used to repair a bone defect or fracture

plate

2 of 2 transitive verb

plated; plating

1

: to inoculate and culture (microorganisms or cells) on a plate

also : to distribute (an inoculum) on a plate or plates for cultivation

2

: to repair (as a fractured bone) with metal plates