platter

[ plat-er ]

noun

1. a large, shallow dish, usually elliptical in shape, for holding and serving food, especially meat or fish.
2. a course of a meal, usually consisting of a variety of foods served on the same plate.
3. Slang. a phonograph record.
4. Computers. a hard disk, the rigid circular plate that rotates on a spindle within a hard disk drive, for data encoding and retrieval.
5. Movie Slang. a part of a motion-picture projector, consisting of a large, horizontally rotating disk that houses a feature film.

platter

/ ˈplætə /

noun

1. a large shallow usually oval dish or plate, used for serving food
2. a course of a meal, usually consisting of several different foods served on the same plate

   a seafood platter

Word History and Origins

Origin of platter¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English plater, from Anglo-French, derivative of plat “dish”; plate ¹, -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of platter¹

C14: from Anglo-Norman plater, from plat dish, from Old French plat flat; see plate

Idioms and Phrases

see under hand to on a silver platter .

Example Sentences

Left, sliced log slabs make decorative plates and platters.

From Los Angeles Times

Complete with decadent platters, occasional live music and constant chatting, White has developed a new outlook on the traditional evening meal.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the one he had attended was facilitated by chaperones in Abercrombie polos and flip-flops, carrying silver platters of alcohol, poppers and lube.

From BBC

"He can't understand what it's like to have a summer job because he was handed millions on a silver platter, only to blow it."

From BBC

The chain was characterized by a logo that included a smiling Depression-era woman in an apron presenting a fresh platter of steaming vinyl.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disc
• dish
• disk
• tray