Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

plate       (plāt)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A smooth, flat, relatively thin, rigid body of uniform thickness. A sheet of hammered, rolled, or cast metal. A very thin applied or deposited coat of metal. A flat piece of metal forming part of a machine: a boiler plate. A flat piece of metal on which something is engraved. A license plate. A thin piece of metal used for armor. Armor made of such pieces. A sheet of metal, plastic, rubber, paperboard, or other material prepared for use as a printing surface, such as an electrotype or a stereotype. A print of a woodcut, lithograph, or other engraved material, especially when reproduced in a book. A full-page book illustration, often in color and printed on paper different from that used on the text pages. A shallow dish in which food is served or from which it is eaten. The contents of such a dish: ate a plate of spaghetti. A whole course served on such a dish. A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize. A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize. A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. A flat piece of metal forming part of a machine: a boiler plate. A flat piece of metal on which something is engraved. A license plate. A thin piece of metal used for armor. Armor made of such pieces. A sheet of metal, plastic, rubber, paperboard, or other material prepared for use as a printing surface, such as an electrotype or a stereotype. A print of a woodcut, lithograph, or other engraved material, especially when reproduced in a book. A full-page book illustration, often in color and printed on paper different from that used on the text pages. A shallow dish in which food is served or from which it is eaten. The contents of such a dish: ate a plate of spaghetti. A whole course served on such a dish. A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize. A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize. A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. A thin piece of metal used for armor. Armor made of such pieces. A sheet of metal, plastic, rubber, paperboard, or other material prepared for use as a printing surface, such as an electrotype or a stereotype. A print of a woodcut, lithograph, or other engraved material, especially when reproduced in a book. A full-page book illustration, often in color and printed on paper different from that used on the text pages. A shallow dish in which food is served or from which it is eaten. The contents of such a dish: ate a plate of spaghetti. A whole course served on such a dish. A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize. A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize. A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. Printing A sheet of metal, plastic, rubber, paperboard, or other material prepared for use as a printing surface, such as an electrotype or a stereotype. A print of a woodcut, lithograph, or other engraved material, especially when reproduced in a book. A full-page book illustration, often in color and printed on paper different from that used on the text pages. A shallow dish in which food is served or from which it is eaten. The contents of such a dish: ate a plate of spaghetti. A whole course served on such a dish. A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize. A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize. A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. Photography A light-sensitive sheet of glass or metal on which a photographic image can be recorded. Dentistry A thin metallic or plastic support fitted to the gums to anchor artificial teeth. Architecture In wood-frame construction, a horizontal member, capping the exterior wall studs, upon which the roof rafters rest. Baseball Home plate. A shallow dish in which food is served or from which it is eaten. The contents of such a dish: ate a plate of spaghetti. A whole course served on such a dish. A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize. A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize. A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. Service and food for one person at a meal: dinner at a set price per plate. Household articles, such as hollowware, covered with a precious metal, such as silver or gold. A dish passed among the members of a group or congregation for the collection of offerings. Sports A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize. A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize. A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. A thin cut of beef from the brisket. Biology A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish. A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles. An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. Electricity An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor. The anode in an electron tube. Geology In the theory of plate tectonics, one of the sections of the earth's lithosphere, constantly moving in relation to the other sections. Informal A schedule of matters to be dealt with: had a lot on my plate at work after vacation. tr.v.   plat·ed, plat·ing, plates To coat or cover with a thin layer of metal. To cover with armor plate: plate a warship. Printing To make a stereotype or electrotype from. To give a glossy finish to (paper) by pressing between metal sheets or rollers. To arrange (food) on a plate, as for serving: "a choice of starters, entrées, and desserts plated just as they will appear when ordered" (John Edward Young). [Middle English, from Old French, from feminine of plat, flat, from Vulgar Latin *plattus, from Greek platus; see plat- in Indo-European roots.] plat'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
plate  (n.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

plate
noun
1.	(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score; "he ruled that the runner failed to touch home" [syn: home plate]
2.	a sheet of metal or wood or glass or plastic
3.	a full-page illustration (usually on slick paper)
4.	dish on which food is served or from which food is eaten
5.	the quantity contained in a plate
6.	a rigid layer of the Earth's crust that is believed to drift slowly
7.	the thin under portion of the forequarter
8.	a main course served on a plate; "a vegetable plate"; "the blue plate special"
9.	any flat platelike body structure or part
10.	the positively charged electrode in a vacuum tube
11.	a flat sheet of metal or glass on which a photographic image can be recorded
12.	structural member consisting of a horizontal beam that provides bearing and anchorage
13.	a shallow receptacle for collection in church
14.	a metal sheathing of uniform thickness (such as the shield attached to an artillery piece to protect the gunners)
15.	a dental appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth [syn: denture]
verb
1.	coat with a layer of metal; "plate spoons with silver"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

plate

see hand to on a silver platter (serve up on a plate); have a lot on one's plate.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

plate       (plāt)  Pronunciation Key  Noun   A thin, flat sheet of metal or other material, especially one used as an electrode in a storage battery or capacitor, or as the anode of an electron tube. In plate tectonics, one of the sections of the Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper mantle) that is in constant motion along with other sections. It is the interaction of the plates that causes mountains, volcanos, and other land features to form and that causes earthquakes to occur. Six major plates and numerous smaller ones are recognized. See more at tectonic boundary. Verb   To coat or cover with a thin layer of metal.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

plate (plāt)
n.

1. A smooth, flat, relatively thin, rigid body of uniform thickness.
2. A thin flat layer, part, or structure.
3. A thin metallic or plastic support fitted to the gums to anchor artificial teeth.
4. A metal bar applied to a fractured bone in order to maintain the ends in apposition.
5. The agar layer within a Petri dish or similar vessel.
6. A sheet of glass or metal that is light-sensitive and on which a photographic image can be recorded.

v. plat·ed, plat·ing, plates
To form a very thin layer of a bacterial culture by streaking it on the surface of agar to isolate individual organisms from which a colonial clone will develop.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Plate

Plate\, n. [OF. plate a plate of metal, a cuirsas, F. plat a plate, a shallow vessel of silver, other metal, or earth, fr. plat flat, Gr. ?. See Place, n.]

1. A flat, or nearly flat, piece of metal, the thickness of which is small in comparison with the other dimensions; a thick sheet of metal; as, a steel plate.

2. Metallic armor composed of broad pieces.

Mangled . . . through plate and mail. --Milton.

3. Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups, etc., wrought in gold or silver.

4. Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is genuine silver or gold.

5. A small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is eaten at table.

6. [Cf. Sp. plata silver.] A piece of money, usually silver money. [Obs.] "Realms and islands were as plates dropp'd from his pocket." --Shak.

7. A piece of metal on which anything is engraved for the purpose of being printed; hence, an impression from the engraved metal; as, a book illustrated with plates; a fashion plate.

8. A page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for printing from; as, publisher's plates.

9. That part of an artificial set of teeth which fits to the mouth, and holds the teeth in place. It may be of gold, platinum, silver, rubber, celluloid, etc.

10. (Arch.) A horizontal timber laid upon a wall, or upon corbels projecting from a wall, and supporting the ends of other timbers; also used specifically of the roof plate which supports the ends of the roof trusses or, in simple work, the feet of the rafters.

11. (Her.) A roundel of silver or tinctured argent.

12. (Photog.) A sheet of glass, porcelain, metal, etc., with a coating that is sensitive to light.

13. A prize giving to the winner in a contest.

Note: Plate is sometimes used in an adjectival sense or in combination, the phrase or compound being in most cases of obvious signification; as, plate basket or plate-basket, plate rack or plate-rack.

Home plate. (Baseball) See Home base, under Home.

Plate armor. (a) See Plate, n., 2. (b) Strong metal plates for protecting war vessels, fortifications, and the like.

Plate bone, the shoulder blade, or scapula.

Plate girder, a girder, the web of which is formed of a single vertical plate, or of a series of such plates riveted together.

Plate glass. See under Glass.

Plate iron, wrought iron plates.

Plate layer, a workman who lays down the rails of a railway and fixes them to the sleepers or ties.

Plate mark, a special mark or emblematic figure stamped upon gold or silver plate, to indicate the place of manufacture, the degree of purity, and the like; thus, the local mark for London is a lion.

Plate paper, a heavy spongy paper, for printing from engraved plates. --Fairholt.

Plate press, a press with a flat carriage and a roller, -- used for printing from engraved steel or copper plates.

Plate printer, one who prints from engraved plates.

Plate printing, the act or process of printing from an engraved plate or plates.

Plate tracery. (Arch.) See under Tracery.

Plate wheel (Mech.), a wheel, the rim and hub of which are connected by a continuous plate of metal, instead of by arms or spokes.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Plate

Plate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plated; p. pr. & vb. n. Plating.]

1. To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals, either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a chemical process, as electrotyping.

2. To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with metal for defense.

Thus plated in habiliments of war. --Shak.

3. To adorn with plated metal; as, a plated harness.

4. To beat into thin, flat pieces, or lamin[ae].

5. To calender; as, to plate paper.