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Glite Dictionary
finger plate

finger plate

6.3
A flat plate on a door that protects the paint from finger marks
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : placa para dedos
  • We decided to install a finger plate to keep fingerprints off the paintwork.

Examples

  • The brass finger plate on the old wooden door had grown dull over time.

  • Many Victorian houses feature ornate finger plates as part of their original fittings.

  • The new finger plate was installed on the front door.

  • Many homes now include finger plates for added protection.

  • The brass finger plate on the entrance door kept it clean from dirty hands.

  • To prevent smudges on the door, we installed a shiny finger plate next to the handle.

  • Her old house had decorative finger plates that added elegance to the doors.

Synonyms

cover plate
vsfinger plate
  • Specialized
1 4.8

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

is specific to doors and to stopping marks from people touching them
scutcheon
vsfinger plate
9.9

A small plate around a keyhole or handle that protects the door

is focused on doors, preventing marks from people touching them
escutcheon
vsfinger plate
  • Specialized
9.9

A metal plate around a keyhole or door handle

is used mainly to stop marks from people touching doors rather than decoration

Surface Forms

finger plate singular
finger plates plural

Morphology

finger + plate

The compound is a straightforward noun+noun composition: 'plate' modified by 'finger' indicates a flat plate associated with fingers. A B1 learner who knows 'finger' and 'plate' can readily infer it is a plate placed where fingers touch (e.g. on a door) to protect or cover that area, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Finger plate comes from the small metal plate fixed to a door where people press with their fingers, so dirt and oil do not mark the paint. So, it now means 'a flat protective covering' fitted to a door 'to prevent fingerprints'.