(a) A utensil of the form of a flat board with a raised rim, or of a shallow box without a lid, made of wood, metal, or other material, of various sizes and shapes (round, oval, quadrilateral with rounded corners, etc.); now used for carrying plates, dishes, cups and other vessels, cards, etc., for containing and exhibiting small articles, as jewellery, natural history specimens, etc., and for various other purposes, as in mining, photography, chemistry, or other arts and sciences. (Often with defining word expressing its purpose, as bread-tray, card-tray, tea-tray, etc.: see these words.) Formerly more widely applied to shallow open vessels generally. In 13–14th centuries, apparently also, as in Old Swedish, name of a measure of capacity.

(b) spec. a tray of food brought to one not able or not wishing to eat at table; hence (loosely), a light snack.