(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
"he ruled that the runner failed to touch home"
a sheet of metal or wood or glass or plastic
"The mechanic used a thin plate of steel to reinforce the cracked frame on the old truck."
a full-page illustration (usually on slick paper)
"The art director insisted we replace the sketch with a vibrant plate to make the magazine spread pop."
dish on which food is served or from which food is eaten
"She carefully placed the steaming lasagna onto her white ceramic plate before taking a seat at the table."
a rigid layer of the Earth's crust that is believed to drift slowly
"Scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that the tectonic plate beneath our feet has shifted several miles over millions of years."
the thin under portion of the forequarter
"The butcher sliced off the tender plate from the brisket before grilling it for dinner."
any flat platelike body structure or part
the positively charged electrode in a vacuum tube
"The technician replaced the worn plate to restore proper signal amplification in the old radio receiver."
a flat sheet of metal or glass on which a photographic image can be recorded
"The technician carefully placed the silver plate into the darkroom tray to develop the new photograph."
structural member consisting of a horizontal beam that provides bearing and anchorage
"The engineer inspected the steel plate beneath the load-bearing wall to ensure it provided adequate anchorage for the new extension."
a shallow receptacle for collection in church
"The usher gently placed the silver plate on the pew to collect the offerings before the sermon began."
a dental appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth
"After his accident, he had to wear a custom plate to replace the three front teeth he lost."
A slightly curved but almost flat dish from which food is served or eaten.
"He carefully wrapped his antique silver plate in velvet to protect it during the move."
Precious metal, especially silver.
In plain English: A plate is a flat dish used for holding and eating food.
"She placed her plate on the table before serving the food."
Usage: Use "plate" as a noun to describe a flat piece of precious metal like silver or gold, often used for decorative items or tableware. Do not use this word to refer to a dinner dish unless you are specifically describing the material it is made from.
To cover the surface material of an object with a thin coat of another material, usually a metal.
"The artisan carefully plated the silver necklace to give it a durable gold finish without changing its original structure."
In plain English: To plate something means to cover it with a thin layer of another metal, usually for decoration or protection.
"She decided to plate the steak with extra mashed potatoes before serving it."
Usage: Use "plate" when describing the process of covering an object's surface with a thin layer of metal, such as plating silverware or jewelry. Do not use it to mean serving food on a dish, which is a different context entirely.
The River Plate.
"After years of studying Argentine history, he finally visited the banks of the Rio de la Plata to see where the legendary football club was founded."
The word plate comes from the Ancient Greek word for "broad" or "flat," traveling through Medieval Latin and Old French into Middle English. While it originally described something wide, its meaning shifted in English to refer specifically to a flat dish used for serving food.