(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.) 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 page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for printing from; as, publisher's plates.
(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 piece of money, usually silver money.
(n.) A prize giving to the winner in a contest.
(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 small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is eaten at table.
(n.) Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups, etc., wrought in gold or silver.
(n.) Metallic armor composed of broad pieces.
(n.) Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is genuine silver or gold.
(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.
(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.
(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.