plated
Definition
- Adjective:
- Coated with a thin layer of metal: "plated" describes an object that has been covered with a layer of metal, such as gold, silver, or another material, through an electrolytic or chemical process.
- Covered with plates: "plated" can also refer to something that is fitted with plates of metal or other hard material for protection or decoration.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The jewelry is gold-plated, not solid gold. (The jewelry has a thin coating of gold on it.)
- The knight wore plated armor into battle. (The armor was made of metal plates for protection.)
Advanced Usage
"plated ware": household items, such as cutlery or dishes, that are made of base metal and coated with a layer of precious metal.
- The restaurant uses plated ware for its formal dinners. (The cutlery and dishes have a silver or gold coating.)
"chrome-plated": coated with a layer of chromium for shine and corrosion resistance.
- The car's bumper is chrome-plated. (The bumper has a shiny chromium coating.)
Variants and Related Words
Plate (n): a flat, thin piece of metal, or a dish for serving food.
- He put the food on a ceramic plate. (A flat dish.)
Plating (n): the process or result of coating something with a thin layer of metal.
- The plating on the ring is starting to wear off. (The metal coating is fading.)
Synonyms
- Coated: covered with a layer of a substance.
- Layered: arranged in layers; often used for materials.
- Gilded: covered with a thin layer of gold (often used for gold-plated items).
Related Idioms
- Silver-plated: coated with silver, often used metaphorically for something that appears valuable but is not.
- That offer is silver-plated — it looks good but isn't genuine. (The offer seems attractive but is deceptive.)
Additional Meaning (Verb)
- Past tense of "plate": "plated" can be the past tense of the verb "to plate," meaning to coat something with a thin layer of metal.
- The artisan plated the copper wire with gold. (The artisan applied a gold coating to the copper wire.)