plate

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from plate, feminine of plat flat, from Vulgar Latin *plattus, probably from Greek platys broad, flat — more at place Date: 14th century 1. a. a smooth flat thin piece of material b. (1) forged, rolled, or cast metal in sheets usually thicker than 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) (2) a very thin layer of metal deposited on a surface of base metal by plating c. one of the broad metal pieces used in armor; also armor of such plates d. (1) a thin relatively flat anatomical part (as a lamina of bone) of an animal body; especially scute (2) the thin under portion of the forequarter of beef; especially the fatty back part — see beef illustration e. home plate f. any of the large movable segments into which the earth's lithosphere is divided according to the theory of plate tectonics 2. [Middle English; partly from Anglo-French plate plate, bullion; partly from Old Spanish plata silver, from Vulgar Latin *platta metal plate, from feminine of plattus flat] a. obsolete a silver coin b. precious metal; especially silver bullion 3. [Middle English, from Anglo-French plat, plate dish, plate, from plat flat] a. domestic hollowware made of or plated with gold, silver, or base metals b. a shallow usually circular vessel from which food is eaten or served c. (1) a quantity to fill a plate ; plateful (2) a main course served on a plate (3) food and service supplied to one person <

a dinner at $10 a plate

> d. (1) a prize given to the winner in a contest (2) British a horse race in which the contestants compete for a prize of fixed value rather than stakes e. a dish or pouch passed during collections f. a flat glass or plastic dish used chiefly for culturing microorganisms 4. a. a prepared surface from which printing is done b. a sheet of material (as glass or plastic) coated with a light-sensitive photographic emulsion c. a metallic grid with its interstices filled with active material that forms one of the structural units of a battery d. license plate 5. a horizontal structural member that provides bearing and anchorage especially for the trusses of a roof or the rafters 6. the part of a denture that fits to the mouth; broadly denture 7. a full-page illustration often on different paper from the text pages 8. a schedule of matters to deal with <

have a lot on my plate now

> • platelike adjective II. transitive verb (plated; plating) Date: 14th century 1. to cover or equip with plate: as a. to provide with armor plate b. to cover with an adherent layer mechanically, chemically, or electrically; also to deposit (as a layer) on a surface 2. to make a printing surface from or for 3. to fix or secure with a plate 4. to cause (as a runner) to score in baseball 5. to arrange (food) on a plate