plural of plate

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of plate

A slightly curved but almost flat dish from which food is served or eaten. / (uncountable) Such dishes collectively. / The contents of such a dish. / A course at a meal.

To cover the surface material of an object with a thin coat of another material, usually a metal. / To place the various elements of a meal on the diner's plate prior to serving.

Precious metal, especially silver.

(obsolete) Silver or gold, in the form of a coin, or less often silver or gold utensils or dishes. / (heraldry) A roundel of silver or argent.

simple past tense and past participle of plate

Covered with plates or scales. / Having a coating of a more precious metal. / Served on a plate.

present participle of plate

(philately) An act of determining where a postage stamp is positioned on a sheet. / A thin coating of metal laid upon another metal. / A coating or defensive armour of metal plates.