Plāte1, n.
n. [O. Fr. plate, a plate of metal, a cuirass, Pr. plata, a scale, plate, cuirass, silver, Sp. plata, Pg. prata, silver; Fr. & Pr. plat, Sp. plato, Pg. plato, It. piatto, a plate, a shallow vessel of silver, metal, or earth; Ger. platte, D. plaat, Dan. plade, Sw. plāt, a flat piece, plate. See PLAT, a.]
Sense 1. A piece of metal extended or flattened to an even surface with a uniform thickness.
☞ A sheet of metal is thinner than a plate.
Sense 2. Metallic armor composed of broad pieces, and thus distinguished from mail. Spencer.
Sense 3. Domestic furniture, as flagons, dishes, cups, &c., wrought in gold or silver.
Sense 4. Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is genuine silver or gold.
Sense 5. A small, shallow vessel, made of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which provisions are eaten at table.
Sense 6. (Arch.) The piece of timber which supports the ends of the rafters.
Sense 7. A piece of metal on which any thing is engraved; hence, an impression from an engraved piece of metal; hence, also, any printed picture.
Sense 8. A page of stereotype, electrotype, or fixed metallic types, for printing from.
Sense 9. (Her.) A roundel of silver or tinctured argent.
☞ Plate is sometimes used in the formation of compound words of very obvious signification; as, plate-basket, plate-carrier, plate-polisher, plate-rack, plate-warmer, and the like.