plate

[pleɪt]

plate Definition

• 1. a flat dish, typically circular and made of china, from which food is eaten or served
• 2. a thin, flat sheet or strip of metal or other material, typically one used to join or strengthen things or forming part of a machine
• 3. a flat glass or plastic surface coated with a light-sensitive material, on which photographic images can be recorded

Using plate: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "plate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She placed the plate of food in front of him.

• Example

  The mechanic used a metal plate to fix the broken engine.

• Example

  He developed the photograph on the glass plate.

plate Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for plate

• dish
• platter
• saucer
• tray
• charger

Antonyms for plate

• bowl
• cup

Idioms Using plate

• have a lot on one's plate

  to have a lot of work or responsibilities to deal with

  Example

  I can't go out tonight, I have a lot on my plate at work.

• plate of armor

  a suit of armor worn for protection in battle

  Example

  The knight put on his plate of armor before heading into battle.

• hand someone their hat and coat on a plate

  to make it easy for someone to leave or quit

  Example

  He was so unhappy with his job that he wished they would just hand him his hat and coat on a plate.

Phrases with plate

• clean plate

  a plate on which all the food has been eaten

  Example

  He always leaves a clean plate after dinner.

• full plate

  a lot of work or responsibilities to deal with

  Example

  She has a full plate with her job and taking care of her children.

• silver plate

  a thin layer of silver coating applied to a base metal

  Example

  The antique spoon was made of silver plate.

Origins of plate

from Old English 'plætt', meaning 'flat piece of land'

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Summary: plate in Brief

A 'plate' [pleɪt] can refer to a flat dish made of china, a thin sheet of metal or other material used to join or strengthen things, or a flat glass or plastic surface coated with a light-sensitive material for photographic images. Phrases like 'clean plate' and 'full plate' are used to describe the amount of food or work one has, while idioms like 'have a lot on one's plate' and 'hand someone their hat and coat on a plate' denote having a lot of work or making it easy for someone to leave.