Plait vs. Plate

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Grammarist

Plait and plate are two words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the definitions of plait and plate, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.

Plait means to braid something, to interlace three or more strands of something together such as hair or twine. Plait may be used as a noun or a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are plaits, plaited, plaiting. The word plait is derived from the Latin word plicare which means to fold or to twist.

A plate is 1.) a round, flat dish from which food is eaten or to arrange food on a dish for the purpose of eating 2.) a thin layer of metal applied to something or to apply a thin layer of metal to something 3.) any number of thin, flat items such as a photographic plate, a bony plate on an armadillo, or home plate in the game of baseball. Related words are plates, plated, plating. The word plate is derived from the Greek word platys which means broad and flat.

Examples

Simply split your hair into two sections following a centre parting, plait into pigtails (keep the hair behind your head and plait down your back to make sure the buns sit at the nape of your neck), then twist each plait around itself to form a bun. (Elle Magazine)

Arizona Department of Transportation officials say specialty license plates keep raising record amounts of money for charitable causes. (U.S. News & World Report)

Manufacturer GKN on Wednesday confirmed plans to shut its gold-plated pension scheme to head off rising costs. (The London Evening Standard)