plate
A flat dish for food
A flat dish that you put food on to eat or serve it.
to put [food] on a plate
- She placed the steak on a large white plate.
- The waiter brought a plate of pasta to the table.
- Please put your dirty plates in the sink.
- He balanced three plates in his hands.
- We need more paper plates for the picnic.
- I put my sandwich on a plate.
- The plate is on the table.
- She eats rice from a small plate.
- We have many clean plates in the cupboard.
Serving of food on a dish
The food that is put on a plate for one person to eat.
a plate of [food]
- He ordered a plate of fried rice.
- I couldn't finish my plate of spaghetti.
- She gave me a generous plate of fruit.
- The children each had a small plate of cookies.
- I eat a big plate of rice.
- He has a plate of chicken.
- She makes me a plate of eggs for breakfast.
Flat sheet of metal or material
A thin, flat piece of metal or other hard material.
- The welder attached a steel plate to the frame.
- A brass name plate was fixed to the door.
- The armor was made from thick iron plates.
- The door has a metal plate on it.
- The car has a name plate on the back.
- He cut the wood into plates.
Rigid armor covering
A hard piece of metal used as part of armor to protect the body.
- The knight wore a breast plate over his tunic.
- Ancient warriors often fought in plate armor.
- The museum displayed a full suit of medieval plates.
- The knight has a big breast plate.
- Plate armor is heavy.
- He wears a plate to protect his chest.
Home base in baseball
In baseball, the flat base where the batter hits the ball from.
- The runner slid into home plate just in time.
- The umpire stood behind home plate.
- He stepped up to the plate and hit a home run.
- The player runs to home plate.
- The ball goes to home plate.
- He stands at home plate to bat.
Tectonic section of Earth's crust
A huge piece of Earth's outer layer that moves slowly and can cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
- The Pacific Plate is moving northwestward.
- Earthquakes often occur near the edges of tectonic plates.
- The collision of two plates formed mountains.
- The Pacific Plate is very big.
- Plates move slowly under the Earth.
- Two plates can push together.
Identifying panel with characters
A flat sign with letters or numbers that shows who owns something or what it is.
- His car has a personalized license plate.
- The police checked the number plate against their records.
- Every vehicle must display its registration plates.
- My car has a license plate.
- The police look at the number plate.
- Every car needs two plates.
- Base: plate
- Plural: plate, plates
clean one's plate
1Eat all food on your dish
To eat all the food that is on your plate.
- You can't have dessert until you clean your plate.
- He always cleans his plate, no matter how much food he gets.
full plate
1Many tasks or commitments at once
When you have many things to do at one time.
- I'd love to help, but I have a full plate right now.
- With three kids and a full-time job, she has a full plate.
have a lot on one's plate
1Be very busy with tasks or problems
To have many things to do or take care of at the same time.
- I can't take on another project right now—I have too much on my plate.
- She's got a lot on her plate with work and school.
on one's plate
1Part of current responsibilities/tasks
Something that you have to do or deal with now.
- I've got too much on my plate already without taking on another job.
- He has several important assignments on his plate this week.
step up to the plate
1Accept responsibility or challenge
To agree to do something important or difficult when it is needed.
- It's time for you to step up to the plate and lead the team.
- It’s time for you to step up to the plate and lead the team.
- When the project was in trouble, she stepped up to the plate and fixed it.
- She stepped up to the plate when her colleague was sick.