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tray

tray

311 1.0
A flat, shallow container used to carry or hold food and dishes
  • noun
  • /treɪ/
translation icon : bandeja
  • On the counter, assembled and waiting, was a tray with a white linen traycloth.
  • serving tray
  • carry a tray
  • take-out tray

Can your ice cube tray one day think?

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Examples

  • Previously, her chair had been equipped with a Plexiglas tray that fitted on top of the arm rails.

    Academic text (1991)
  • There were two silver spoons on the tray and two cups with deep saucers.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Nice and straight there and the tray looks nice and flat.

  • I put a tray out there.

  • Where would you like me to put the tray?

  • Later, when a nurse arrived with a tray of medicine, the wife wanted to

    Academic text (1997)
  • So this is the tray for the top of each shelf.

  • "After a while, their mother was back, holding a tray of glasses that fizzed."

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In black tie, carry covered silver trays as they trot through the tunnel.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Please place the cookies on the tray for serving at the party.

Synonyms

dish
vstray
329 1.0

A shallow round container used for holding or serving food

is flatter and more rectangular, used for carrying or displaying items rather than bowls
platter
vstray
73 1.5

A large flat shallow dish for serving food

is smaller or flatter and used for holding or carrying various items
cookie sheet
vstray
  • US
9 1.6

A flat metal tray that you use to bake cookies in an oven

is for general holding or serving and not designed for oven baking
inbox
vstray
2 1.8

A tray on a desk for incoming letters and papers

is used for holding or serving physical items like food rather than documents
tea tray
vstray
1 1.5

A flat thing used to carry a teapot and cups when serving tea

is the general shallow flat container used for holding or serving many items
cheese tray
vstray
1 1.6

A flat dish that holds and serves different cheeses

is the general shallow flat container used for holding or serving many items
salver
vstray
1 9.8

A flat tray often made of silver that people use to serve food or drinks

is the common, nonmetallic or informal version used for general holding or serving
baking tray
vstray
  • UK
1 2.3

A flat metal pan used in an oven to bake food like cookies

is mainly for holding or serving items rather than for direct oven cooking
1 1.0

A flat rectangular object for carrying plates, cups, and food in a cafeteria

is the general shallow flat container used for holding or serving many items
in-tray
vstray
  • UK
1 4.0

A tray on a desk for papers that need attention

is the physical carrier for food or objects, not specifically for paperwork
pand
vstray
  • Archaic
9.9

A shallow open container like a bowl for holding or serving food

is the flatter form mainly used for carrying or showing items rather than basins
icetray
vstray
1.1

A tray with small compartments you fill with water to make ice cubes in a freezer

is a flat container used broadly for holding or serving various items
seed tray
vstray
2.8

A shallow container for planting seeds and growing young plants

is used mainly for holding or serving items rather than gardening or planting
alms tray
vstray
7.9

A tray people pass around during a religious service to collect money

is used for holding or displaying items rather than for collecting money or donations
out-tray
vstray
  • UK
4.1

A tray on a desk where you put papers to send out

is the shallow flat holder for physical items rather than for office paperwork

Compounds

1 1.5

A flat thing used to carry a teapot and cups when serving tea

1 1.6

A flat dish that holds and serves different cheeses

1 2.3

A flat metal pan used in an oven to bake food like cookies

A flat rectangular object for carrying plates, cups, and food in a cafeteria

in-tray
  • UK
1 4.0

A tray on a desk for papers that need attention

7.9

A tray people pass around during a religious service to collect money

A sliding platform under a desk that holds a computer keyboard

4.1

A tray on a desk where you put papers to send out

2.8

A shallow container for planting seeds and growing young plants

A small cloth used to cover a tray when serving food or drinks

How Big

platter
73 1.5
tray
311 1.0
plate
304 1.0
saucer
22 1.0

Surface Forms

tray singular
trays plural

Etymology

Tray comes from Old French and originally named a flat board or dish for holding food. It probably comes from an old word meaning 'to carry', which helps explain why a tray is a flat thing you use to hold and carry plates, drinks, or other items.