Definition of plate

• n. - A flat, or nearly flat, piece of metal, the thickness of which is small in comparison with the other dimensions; a thick sheet of metal; as, a steel plate.
• n. - Metallic armor composed of broad pieces.
• n. - Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups, etc., wrought in gold or silver.
• n. - Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is genuine silver or gold.
• n. - A small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is eaten at table.
• n. - A piece of money, usually silver money.
• n. - A piece of metal on which anything is engraved for the purpose of being printed; hence, an impression from the engraved metal; as, a book illustrated with plates; a fashion plate.
• n. - A page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for printing from; as, publisher's plates.
• n. - That part of an artificial set of teeth which fits to the mouth, and holds the teeth in place. It may be of gold, platinum, silver, rubber, celluloid, etc.
• n. - A horizontal timber laid upon a wall, or upon corbels projecting from a wall, and supporting the ends of other timbers; also used specifically of the roof plate which supports the ends of the roof trusses or, in simple work, the feet of the rafters.
• n. - A roundel of silver or tinctured argent.
• n. - A sheet of glass, porcelain, metal, etc., with a coating that is sensitive to light.
• n. - A prize giving to the winner in a contest.
• v. t. - To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals, either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a chemical process, as electrotyping.
• v. t. - To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with metal for defense.
• v. t. - To adorn with plated metal; as, a plated harness.
• v. t. - To beat into thin, flat pieces, or laminae.
• v. t. - To calender; as, to plate paper.