A plaque is a flat piece of metal or stone with writing on it which is fixed to a wall or other structure to remind people of an important person or event.
After touring the hospital, the princess unveiled a commemorative plaque.
2. uncountable noun
Plaque is a substance containing bacteria that forms on the surface of your teeth.
Deposits of plaque build up between the tooth and the gum.
More Synonyms of plaque
plaque in British English
(plæk, plɑːk)
noun
1.
an ornamental or commemorative inscribed tablet or plate of porcelain, wood, etc
2.
a small flat brooch or badge, as of a club, etc
3. pathology
any small abnormal patch on or within the body, such as the typical lesion of psoriasis
4. short for dental plaque
5. bacteriology
a clear area within a bacterial or tissue culture caused by localized destruction of the cells by a bacteriophage or other virus
Word origin
C19: from French, from plaquier to plate, from Middle Dutch placken to beat (metal) into a thin plate
plaque in American English
(plæk)
noun
1.
a.
any thin, flat piece of metal, wood, etc., with a picture, design in relief, etc., hung as on a wall for ornamentation
b.
a wall tablet inscribed to commemorate an event, identify a building, etc.
2.
a platelike brooch worn as a badge or ornament
3.
a.
an abnormal patch on the skin, mucous membrane, etc.
b.
a thin, transparent film on a tooth surface, containing mucin, bacteria, etc.: if not removed it forms tartar and promotes tooth decay
c.
a deposit of fatty or fibrous material in a blood vessel wall
Word origin
Fr < MDu placke, disk, spot, patch
Examples of 'plaque' in a sentence
plaque
Loved ones should not have to pay to paint and protect a bench when a very small plaque is attached to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Fund managers also claim they should have a relatively easy job adapting, thanks to a few new brass plaques and some juicy legal fees.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She loved blue plaques and was always curious about them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The rest of their skeletons are piled high in plain sight behind commemorative plaques.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One theory is that inflammation swells the plaque that builds up in arteries as we age.
The Sun (2007)
She had a small silver plaque engraved and fixed to the instrument.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Each comes with an engraved brass plaque.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Blue plaques on each of the buildings confirmed the literary connection.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Let us hope the error was not on the commemorative plaque.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Dental cavities form when plaque and sugar build up on the tooth over time.
The Sun (2011)
He brushes at some dead leaves with his boot and a small numbered plaque appears.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Designers hope to use the existing brass plaques and marble centre stone.
The Sun (2009)
It was only when they arrived at a house with a commemorative plaque that it made sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was also given a commemorative plaque.
The Sun (2014)
This is most successful on thicker plaques of psoriasis as the rays are absorbed much deeper into the skin.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The organisation has launched a campaign to increase the number of women honoured with its blue plaques in the capital.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Blue plaques have always bothered me.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
When they were killed, they were buried without a memorial stone or plaque.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A plaque on the wall suddenly began to shake for no discernible reason.
Siegel, Bernie S. (MD) Love, Medicine and Miracles (1990)
The blue plaque on the wall of the house where he rented an attic flat for 18 years is overgrown with honeysuckle.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
TEN arrests were made in raids across London as cops seized hundreds of stolen metal plaques and memorials.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
plaque
British English: plaque /plæk; plɑːk/ NOUN
A plaque is a flat piece of metal or wood, which is fixed to a wall or monument in memory of a person or event.
A plaque was placed at the scene of the accident.
American English: plaque
Arabic: لَوْحَة
Brazilian Portuguese: placa comemorativa
Chinese: 匾额
Croatian: plaketa
Czech: pamětní deska
Danish: mindeplade
Dutch: gedenkplaat
European Spanish: placa
Finnish: laatta muistolaatta tms.
French: plaque
German: Gedenktafel
Greek: πλάκα
Italian: placca
Japanese: 記念銘板
Korean: 현판
Norwegian: plakett
Polish: plakietka
European Portuguese: placa comemorativa
Romanian: placă comemorativă
Russian: памятная доска
Latin American Spanish: placa
Swedish: skylt
Thai: แผ่นเหล็กหรือหินสลัก
Turkish: plaket
Ukrainian: пам'ятна дошка
Vietnamese: tấm biển
Chinese translation of 'plaque'
plaque
(plæk)
n
(c) (on building, wall) 饰(飾)板 (shìbǎn) (块(塊), kài)
(u) (on teeth) 斑 (bān)
(noun)
Definition
a commemorative inscribed stone or metal plate
Her Majesty unveiled a commemorative plaque.
Synonyms
plate
The beam is strengthened by a steel plate 6 millimetres thick.
panel
medal
tablet
ancient stone tablets from the pyramids
badge
He handed me a computer-printed name badge.
slab
brooch
a sapphire brooch
medallion
cartouch(e)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of badge
He handed me a computer-printed name badge.
Synonyms
brooch,
pin,
button (US),
breast pin
in the sense of brooch
Definition
an ornament with a hinged pin and catch, worn fastened to clothing
a sapphire brooch
Synonyms
badge,
pin,
clip,
fastening,
clasp
in the sense of tablet
Definition
an inscribed piece of stone, wood, etc., that is fixed to a wall as a memorial