plate
A flat dish that you put food on to eat or serve it.
A flat, usually round dish from which food is eaten or on which it is served.
The food that is put on a plate for one person to eat.
An amount of food arranged on a plate for one person.
A thin, flat piece of metal or other hard material.
A thin, flat sheet of metal, glass, or other solid material.
A hard piece of metal used as part of armor to protect the body.
A piece of armor made from metal plates used to protect the body.
In baseball, the flat base where the batter hits the ball from.
In baseball, the flat base at which the batter stands and tries to hit the ball.
A huge piece of Earth's outer layer that moves slowly and can cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
A large, rigid piece of Earth's lithosphere that moves over the mantle, causing geological activity.
A flat sign with letters or numbers that shows who owns something or what it is.
A flat panel with identifying letters or numbers, often fixed to vehicles or machines.
- 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.