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Glite Dictionary
in-tray

in-tray

1 4.0
A tray on a desk for papers that need attention
  • noun
  • /ˈɪnˌtreɪ/
  • UK
translation icon : bandeja de entrada
  • Her in-tray was overflowing with reports that had to be reviewed by the end of the week.

Examples

  • I cleaned off every night except for an in-tray and pen holder.

    Blog text (30)

  • There was a postcard from Bangkok in my in tray this morning.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • And that is going to be in the in tray pretty soon.

  • My in-tray is piling up.

    Wild Child (2008)

  • As the pile reached the ceiling, another in-tray appeared and also began filling.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • When l spoke to Andy Dixon at the Bank, he said the matter was... ..''buried reasonably deep in his in-tray''.

    Rogue Trader (1999)

  • I found several important documents sitting in my in-tray that need my immediate attention.

  • Every morning, I check my in-tray for new messages and paperwork to organize.

Synonyms

inbox
vsin-tray
2 1.8

A tray on a desk for incoming letters and papers

is more general, holding incoming documents or papers rather than mainly letters
in-basket
vsin-tray
  • US
1 3.2

A tray on a desk for holding incoming papers or mail

is narrower, mainly for documents or papers rather than broader mail or tasks

How Big

dumpster
  • US
190 2.7
trash can
  • US
72 1.0
wastebin
  • UK
1.0
in-tray
  • UK
1 4.0

Surface Forms

in-tray singular
in-trays plural
in trays plural
in tray singular

Morphology

in-tray = in + tray (transparent) = in + tray

The meaning is directly compositional: an 'in-tray' is a tray for items that are coming in or awaiting attention.

Etymology

In-tray combines the parts in- 'into' and tray 'a flat container'. So it is literally the tray for your incoming papers, like a paper 'inbox' on your desk.