faceplate

[ feys-pleyt ]

noun

1. (on a lathe) a perforated plate, mounted on the live spindle, to which the work is attached.
2. the part of a protective headpiece, as a diver's or astronaut's helmet, that covers the upper portion of the face, often of transparent material and sometimes movable.
3. Also called face. Electronics. the glass front of a cathode ray tube upon which the image is displayed.
4. a protective plate, as one surrounding an electric outlet or light switch.

faceplate

/ ˈfeɪsˌpleɪt /

noun

1. a perforated circular metal plate that can be attached to the headstock of a lathe in order to hold flat or irregularly shaped workpieces
2. Also calledsurface plate a flat rigid plate used to check the flatness and squareness of the faces of a component
3. the part of a cathode-ray tube carrying the phosphor screen

Word History and Origins

Origin of faceplate¹

First recorded in 1835–45; face + plate ¹

Example Sentences

Patrick Whelan peers through the faceplate of his clean-room bunny suit to see how things are going.

From MIT Technology Review

Then you have the other containment vessel, with a concrete faceplate underneath that's between four and 10 feet thick.

From The Daily Beast

The snow tended to plaster itself against his faceplate, and the wind kept trying to take him off his feet.

From Project Gutenberg

In the first place this is a book of problems—25 plates covering spindle, faceplate, and chuck turning.

From Project Gutenberg

Through the fused quartz faceplate, her angular features wore a curious, faint smile.

From Project Gutenberg

He pushed his forehead against the faceplate of his helmet and rubbed off some of the sweat.

From Project Gutenberg

I'd noticed a smeared spot about nose-level on the faceplate of my fishbowl, and now was as good a time as any to get rid of it.

From Project Gutenberg