surface plate

noun

1. Machinery. a flat plate used by machinists for testing surfaces that are to be made perfectly flat.

surface plate

noun

1. See faceplate
   another name for faceplate

Word History and Origins

Origin of surface plate¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Prepare surface plate culture of the organism to be cultivated.

From Project Gutenberg

Holding the piece of spleen in the forceps, dab the cut surface on to a surface plate in a number of different spots.

From Project Gutenberg

Make cultivations, tube and surface plate, and cover-slip preparations from this situation.

From Project Gutenberg

To determine this a surface plate, as it is called, is needed.

From Project Gutenberg

Its weak point was the liability of the surface plate to crack through under fire and become detached from its iron backing.

From Project Gutenberg