tray

noun

: an open receptacle with a flat bottom and a low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful noun

Examples of tray in a Sentence

She carried the tray of food to our table. a car with several storage trays
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Customers with silver trays and tongs select pastries from glass-door cabinets. Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025 What to consider before buying an ice cube tray Material The three main types of ice cube tray materials are plastic, silicone and metal. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025 Related article People are angry at Gen Z taking photos of airport trays. Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025 Simply take a carton of bone broth and pour it equally into a large ice-cube tray. Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tray

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English trīg, trēg; akin to Old Swedish trø wooden grain measure and probably to Old English trēow tree — more at tree entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tray was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Tray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tray. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

tray

noun
: an open container with flat bottom and low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful noun

Medical Definition

tray

noun
: an appliance consisting of a flanged body and a handle for use in holding plastic material against the gums or teeth in making negative impressions for dentures

More from Merriam-Webster on tray

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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