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
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
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
plated; plating
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
Synonyms
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
Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
Botta boots, a black Dior Saddle Bag, a gold Chanel quilted cutout plate double chain necklace and Louis Vuitton's gold Louise PM Earrings.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 31 Oct. 2024
The exterior also introduces the air of whimsy that went into the design, with the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot plated in silver and gold in such a way as to suggest that the sculpture is 'really' made of gold, under a silver disguise that has worn away.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
During Wine Down Wednesdays, expect pairing deals like a bottle of wine and a loaded bruschetta plate.
—Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
Botta boots, a black Dior Saddle Bag, a gold Chanel quilted cutout plate double chain necklace and Louis Vuitton's gold Louise PM Earrings.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The jewelry collective uses 14kt gold fill that’s never inferior plated, alongside sterling silver, to make its assortment of offerings.
—Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 31 Oct. 2024
The exterior also introduces the air of whimsy that went into the design, with the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot plated in silver and gold in such a way as to suggest that the sculpture is 'really' made of gold, under a silver disguise that has worn away.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plate
Dictionary Entries Near plate
Cite this Entry
“Plate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plate
1 of 2 noun1
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
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
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
plate
2 of 2 verb
plated; plating
: to cover or equip with plate
plate the teapot with silver
Medical Definition
plate
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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