plate

noun

UK /pleɪt/

Word Forms

singular	plate
plural	plates

1
countable a flat round dish that you put food on
Rinse the plates before putting them in the dishwasher.
paper plates
Synonyms and related words
Types of plate or dish
bowl
dish
finger bowl
1. 1a
  
  plate
  or
  plateful
  the amount of food that a plate will hold
  plate of:
  a plate of sandwiches
  Synonyms and related words
  Amounts and pieces of food
  a stick of butter/margarine
  batch
  bed
2. 1b
  Americana platter served in a restaurant
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for meals or food
  food
  meal
  cooking
3. 1c
  a flat round dish used for collecting money, especially in a church
  There will be a plate at the back for any donations.
  Synonyms and related words
  Christian religious clothes, objects and symbols
  altar
  biretta
  cassock
2
countable a piece of metal or a hard substance used for covering or protecting something
Synonyms and related words
Layers and coverings
surface
cover
layer
1. 2a
  a piece of metal put into a part of someone’s body to protect it
  Surgeons covered the wound in his skull with a metal plate.
  Synonyms and related words
  Medical equipment
  catheter
  defibrillator
  drain
2. 2b
  a piece of metal used for covering something, or for joining two parts of something together
  Workers put a steel plate over the hole in the roadway.
  They welded a large plate to the side of the damaged ship.
  Synonyms and related words
  Layers and coverings
  surface
  cover
  layer
3. 2c
  one of the flat pieces of bone, horn etc that protect the body of some animals
  Synonyms and related words
  The skin, bones and fur of animals
  armor
  armour
  beard
3
countable a small piece of metal or plastic that is fixed to something and used for showing information such as someone’s name or a number
You can find the serial number on a plate inside the door of the refrigerator.
Synonyms and related words
Notices and signposts
banner
blue plaque
board
See alsonumber plate
4
uncountable a thin layer of silver or gold that covers a less valuable metal to improve its appearance
Synonyms and related words
Layers and coverings
surface
cover
layer
Synonyms and related words
Metalworking and forms of metal
anvil
bar
beat
1. 4a
  forks, spoons, plates etc that are covered by a layer of silver or gold
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for tableware and earthenware
  bone china
  canteen
  china
5
countable a piece of metal used, especially in the past, for printing the words and pictures in books
Synonyms and related words
Printing and fonts and print layout
bold
bold
CamelCase
1. 5a
  a picture printed on special paper in a book
  The book contains 35 colour plates.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of books
  acknowledgments
  addendum
  afterword
2. 5b
  a piece of glass covered in chemicals that react with light, used especially in the past for producing images that could then be printed as photographs
  Synonyms and related words
  Cameras and photographic equipment
  analogue camera
  aperture
  body camera
6
countable a piece of plastic or metal with false teeth fixed to it that is made to fit inside your mouth
Synonyms and related words
Dentistry
amalgam
brace
bridge
1. 6a
  a piece of plastic with wires fixed to it that you wear in your mouth to make your teeth straight
  Synonyms and related words
  Dentistry
  amalgam
  brace
  bridge
7
countable one of the layers of rock that form the surface of the Earth
Synonyms and related words
The Earth’s surface and its features
aquifer
continental drift
continental shelf

phrases

hand something to someone on a plate

have a lot/enough/too much on your plate

step up to the plate

plate

noun

US /pleɪt/

Word Forms

singular	plate
plural	plates

1
countable a flat round dish that you put food on
Rinse the plates before putting them in the dishwasher.
paper plates
Synonyms and related words
Types of plate or dish
bowl
dish
finger bowl
1. 1a
  
  plate
  or
  plateful
  the amount of food that a plate will hold
  plate of:
  a plate of French fries
  Synonyms and related words
  Amounts and pieces of food
  a stick of butter/margarine
  batch
  bed
2. 1b
  Americana complete meal or main part of a meal served on one plate
  This place has a good vegetarian plate.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for meals or food
  food
  meal
  cooking
3. 1c
  a flat round dish used for collecting money, especially in a church
  There will be a plate at the back for any donations.
  Synonyms and related words
  Christian religious clothes, objects and symbols
  altar
  biretta
  cassock
2
countable a piece of metal or a hard substance used for covering or protecting something
Synonyms and related words
Layers and coverings
surface
cover
layer
1. 2a
  a piece of metal put into a part of someone’s body to protect it
  Surgeons covered the wound in his skull with a metal plate.
  Synonyms and related words
  Medical equipment
  balloon
  catheter
  defibrillator
2. 2b
  a piece of metal used for covering something, or for joining two parts of something together
  Workers put a steel plate over the hole in the roadway.
  They welded a large plate to the side of the damaged ship.
  Synonyms and related words
  Layers and coverings
  surface
  cover
  layer
3. 2c
  one of the flat pieces of bone, horn, etc. that protect the body of some animals
  Synonyms and related words
  The skin, bones and fur of animals
  armor
  armour
  beard
3
countable a small piece of metal or plastic that is fixed to something and used for showing information such as someone’s name or a number
You can find the serial number on a plate inside the door of the refrigerator.
Synonyms and related words
Notices and signposts
banner
board
bulletin board
See alsolicense plate
4
uncountable a thin layer of silver or gold that covers a less valuable metal to improve its appearance
Synonyms and related words
Layers and coverings
surface
cover
layer
Synonyms and related words
Metalworking and forms of metal
anvil
bar
beat
1. 4a
  forks, spoons, plates, etc. that are covered by a layer of silver or gold
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for tableware and earthenware
  bone china
  canteen
  china
5
countable a piece of metal used, especially in the past, for printing the words and pictures in books
Synonyms and related words
Printing and fonts and print layout
bold
bold
CamelCase
1. 5a
  a picture printed on special paper in a book
  The book contains 35 color plates.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of books
  acknowledgments
  addendum
  afterword
2. 5b
  a piece of glass covered in chemicals that react with light, used especially in the past for producing images that could then be printed as photographs
  Synonyms and related words
  Cameras and photographic equipment
  analogue camera
  aperture
  ASA
6
countable a piece of plastic or metal with false teeth fixed to it that is made to fit inside your mouth
Synonyms and related words
Dentistry
amalgam
braces
bridge
1. 6a
  a piece of plastic with wires fixed to it that you wear in your mouth to make your teeth straight
  Synonyms and related words
  Dentistry
  amalgam
  braces
  bridge
7
countable one of the layers of rock that form the surface of the Earth
Synonyms and related words
The Earth’s surface and its features
aquifer
continental drift
continental shelf

phrases

hand something to someone on a plate

have a lot/enough/too much on your plate

step up to the plate

plate

verb transitive

UK /pleɪt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	plate
he/she/it	plates
present participle	plating
past tense	plated
past participle	plated

1
to cover a metal object with a thin layer of gold or silver
Synonyms and related words
To cover something with a specific substance
carpet
paper
plaster
Synonyms and related words
Metalworking and forms of metal
anvil
bar
beat
2
to protect something with a piece of metal
Synonyms and related words
Metalworking and forms of metal
anvil
bar
beat
1. 2a
  if hard layers of bone, horn etc plate an animal’s body, they cover and protect it
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something with a specific substance
  carpet
  paper
  plaster
  Synonyms and related words
  The skin, bones and fur of animals
  armor
  armour
  beard

plate

verb transitive

US /pleɪt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	plate
he/she/it	plates
present participle	plating
past tense	plated
past participle	plated

1
to cover a metal object with a thin layer of gold or silver
Synonyms and related words
To cover something with a specific substance
carpet
paper
plaster
Synonyms and related words
Metalworking and forms of metal
anvil
bar
beat
2
to protect something with a piece of metal
Synonyms and related words
Metalworking and forms of metal
anvil
bar
beat
1. 2a
  if hard layers of bone, horn, etc. plate an animal’s body, they cover and protect it
  Synonyms and related words
  To cover something with a specific substance
  carpet
  paper
  plaster
  Synonyms and related words
  The skin, bones and fur of animals
  armor
  armour
  beard

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