\Plate\, n. [OF. plate a plate of metal, a cuirsas, F.
plat a plate, a shallow vessel of silver, other metal, or
earth, fr. plat flat, Gr. ?. See {Place}, n.]
1. 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.
2. Metallic armor composed of broad pieces.
         Mangled . . . through plate and mail. --Milton.
3. Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups,
   etc., wrought in gold or silver.
4. Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that
   which is genuine silver or gold.
5. A small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or
   wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is
   eaten at table.
6. [Cf. Sp. plata silver.] A piece of money, usually silver
   money. [Obs.] ``Realms and islands were as plates dropp'd
   from his pocket.'' --Shak.
7. 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.
8. A page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for
   printing from; as, publisher's plates.
9. 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.
10. (Arch.) 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.
11. (Her.) A roundel of silver or tinctured argent.
12. (Photog.) A sheet of glass, porcelain, metal, etc., with
    a coating that is sensitive to light.
13. A prize giving to the winner in a contest.
Note: Plate is sometimes used in an adjectival sense or in
      combination, the phrase or compound being in most cases
      of obvious signification; as, plate basket or
      plate-basket, plate rack or plate-rack.
{Home plate}. (Baseball) See {Home base}, under {Home}.
{Plate armor}.
    (a) See {Plate}, n., 2.
    (b) Strong metal plates for protecting war vessels,
        fortifications, and the like.
{Plate bone}, the shoulder blade, or scapula.
{Plate girder}, a girder, the web of which is formed of a
   single vertical plate, or of a series of such plates
   riveted together.
{Plate glass}. See under {Glass}.
{Plate iron}, wrought iron plates.
{Plate layer}, a workman who lays down the rails of a railway
   and fixes them to the sleepers or ties.
{Plate mark}, a special mark or emblematic figure stamped
   upon gold or silver plate, to indicate the place of
   manufacture, the degree of purity, and the like; thus, the
   local mark for London is a lion.
{Plate paper}, a heavy spongy paper, for printing from
   engraved plates. --Fairholt.
{Plate press}, a press with a flat carriage and a roller, --
   used for printing from engraved steel or copper plates.
{Plate printer}, one who prints from engraved plates.
{Plate printing}, the act or process of printing from an
   engraved plate or plates.
{Plate tracery}. (Arch.) See under {Tracery}.
{Plate wheel} (Mech.), a wheel, the rim and hub of which are
   connected by a continuous plate of metal, instead of by
   arms or spokes.

\Plate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plated}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Plating}.]
1. To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals,
   either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a
   chemical process, as electrotyping.
2. To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with
   metal for defense.
         Thus plated in habiliments of war.    --Shak.
3. To adorn with plated metal; as, a plated harness.
4. To beat into thin, flat pieces, or lamin[ae].
5. To calender; as, to plate paper.