Skip to main content
plate

plate

304 1.0
A flat round dish from which people eat
  • noun
  • /pleɪt/
translation icon : plato
  • She served the spaghetti on a plate decorated with colorful patterns.
  • a dinner plate
  • plates and cups
  • plastic plates

OK, You may remove the cloche from plate number one.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The table is filled with plates and coffee cups and the debris of dirty dishes.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The blonde girl smacked down a white china plate in front of me.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I look at the plate on my kitchen table.

  • I can almost hold the whole plate up if I pull it fast.

  • Just put something on a plate.

  • I'm going to get the plate ready.

  • And I would bring a plate of soup to my grandma.

  • Only once the pancakes have been transferred to your plate.

  • I got some milk and the kitten licked the plate clean.

  • I started to unload the dishwasher, taking out the plates and stacking them on the cabinet shelf.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

platter
vsplate
73 1.5

A large flat shallow dish for serving food

is typically smaller and used for single portions or direct eating
paper plate
vsplate
10 1.0

A plate made of paper or thin cardboard that you throw away after use

is the reusable everyday flat dish for serving or eating food
dinner plate
vsplate
5 1.0

A large plate for the main part of a meal

is the general flat round dish used for eating or serving food
salad plate
vsplate
2 1.6

A small plate for one person's salad

is the standard flat dish for any food serving or eating
dessert plate
vsplate
1 1.0

A small plate for eating dessert after a meal

is the general dish used more broadly for eating or serving food
gold plate
vsplate
1 3.9

A piece of tableware or object of ordinary metal covered with a thin layer of gold

is the ordinary dining dish, not emphasising decorative metal coating
soup plate
vsplate
1 1.8

A deep plate with a wide rim used for serving soup

is a flat round dish rather than a deep vessel for liquids
silver plate
vsplate
1 3.1

Items like forks and spoons that are made of another metal with a thin silver layer for use at meals

describes the regular flat serving or eating dish without focus on material
paten
vsplate
  • Archaic
9.9

A shallow dish used long ago for holding or serving food

is the common modern flat dish rather than an archaic serving vessel
underplate
vsplate
6.2

A plate placed under another plate or bowl to protect the table and make it look nicer

is designed for direct serving and eating rather than supporting another dish

Idioms

32 4.6

To take responsibility and act when a difficult situation happens

on a plate
  • Informal
1 5.1

To get something very easily without having to work for it

Compounds

124 1.6

A plate on vehicles like cars that shows the registration number

home plate
  • Jargon
20 3.6

A flat rubber base with five sides that a batter stands over and runners touch to score

15 3.4

A small portable electric cooker with one or two burners for cooking and keeping food warm

13 3.4

Large flat sheets of clear glass used for windows and doors

10 1.0

A plate made of paper or thin cardboard that you throw away after use

A shallow dish people pass around in church to collect money

5 1.0

A large plate for the main part of a meal

5 3.0

A flat piece of steel used to make or strengthen buildings and machines

plate tectonics
  • Specialized
5 3.9

Theory that Earth's outer layer is split into large moving plates that cause earthquakes and mountains

3 6.8

A flat sheet of glass or metal covered with a material that reacts to light to record pictures

2 1.6

A small plate for one person's salad

1 5.6

A removable set of false teeth that fits in the mouth

bite plate
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A small removable piece of plastic that fits on the roof of the mouth to help the teeth or jaw

A small plate for eating dessert after a meal

armor plate
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A thick metal sheet used to protect tanks, ships, or buildings from bullets and explosions

1 3.9

A piece of tableware or object of ordinary metal covered with a thin layer of gold

charge plate
  • Archaic
1 8.4

A small metal or plastic plate that people use like an early credit card to pay for goods

cover plate
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A flat hard plate that closes an opening to protect the parts inside

fashion plate
  • Archaic
1 6.1

A picture that shows the latest clothes in magazines and books

fashion plate
  • Archaic
1 6.5

A person who cares a lot about clothes and follows the latest styles

gold plate
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A thin layer of gold put on the surface of another material for decoration or protection

1 4.1

A thin sheet of metal covered with tin used to make cans and kitchen items

1 3.1

Items like forks and spoons that are made of another metal with a thin silver layer for use at meals

1 1.8

A deep plate with a wide rim used for serving soup

comb-plate
  • Specialized
9.9

A row of tiny hairs joined together that some sea animals use to move

crustal plate
  • Specialized
6.4

A large solid piece of the Earth's outer layer that moves slowly

9.9

A way to make photographs on glass plates with a thin light-sensitive layer

dry plate
  • Archaic
9.9

A glass plate with a light-sensitive coating used by early photographers

end-plate
  • Specialized
8.4

The flat end of a nerve that sends signals to a muscle

A plate with different grilled meats and side dishes like coleslaw

6.3

A flat plate on a door that protects the paint from finger marks

A complete suit of metal plates that covers the body and protects a knight in battle

kick plate
  • Specialized
3.3

A metal or plastic strip fixed to the bottom of a door to protect it from scuff marks

kick plate
  • Specialized
4.6

A removable panel at the bottom of an appliance or door that protects it and gives access to parts inside

L-plate
  • UK
7.9

A square sign with the letter L on a car showing the driver is learning

motor end plate
  • Specialized
7.5

The place where a nerve connects to a muscle to make it move

guide plate
  • Jargon
7.3

A metal plate with a long slot that helps control a climbing rope by holding a carabiner

gusset plate
  • Specialized
8.2

A metal plate that connects and strengthens beams and joints

quarter plate
  • Archaic
9.9

A small piece of glass for early cameras, about 3 by 4 inches

rider plate
  • Specialized
8.8

A metal plate fixed to the top of a ship's keel to make it stronger

Flat sheets of iron used to make or strengthen buildings and ships

A rack for holding plates upright to dry after washing

A narrow shelf fixed to a wall for showing plates and small decorations

plate tectonic theory
  • Specialized
4.8

A scientific idea that Earth's outer layer of rock moves in large plates and causes earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains

A machine that uses flat plates and frames to separate solids from liquids

plate armor
  • Specialized
8.0

A suit of metal plates worn by knights for protection in battle

plate armor
  • Specialized
7.7

Plates of thick steel that protect vehicles or buildings from enemy fire

plate compactor
  • Specialized
6.7

A machine with a flat plate that packs dirt, gravel or sand tightly

plate filter press
  • Specialized
6.9

A machine made of many plates that removes solids from liquids

A machine with plates and frames that separates solids from liquids in factories

A plate with a sandwich and a small side like salad or pickles

silver plate
  • Specialized
4.3

A thin layer of silver that covers another material to decorate or protect it

spin the plate
  • Baby Talk
9.3

A children's game where a plate is spun and the named player must catch it or do a silly task

Sticht plate
  • Jargon
9.8

A small metal plate climbers use to hold and slow a rope when lowering or belaying someone

8.4

A machine with a flat plate that vibrates and makes soil, sand, or gravel firm

A long horizontal piece of wood on top of a wall supporting beams

How Big

platter
73 1.5
serving dish
3 1.0
plate
304 1.0
saucer
22 1.0

Surface Forms

plate singular
plates plural

Etymology

Plate comes from an old French word plat meaning 'flat', the same idea as our English word 'flat'. So a plate is simply a flat dish used for food.