tray

/trei/
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tray

A waiter carries a full tray of drinks across the restaurant.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A flat, shallow container with a raised edge, used for carrying, holding, or displaying items: A "tray" is typically a portable, open receptacle designed to hold objects like food, drinks, or small items, often for the purpose of serving or transporting them.
Usage
  • A "tray" is used to organize and carry multiple items at once, such as dishes, glasses, or office supplies.
  • It is commonly found in settings like kitchens, cafeterias, offices, and hospitals.
  • The word is a countable noun (e.g., , ).
Examples
  • Noun:
    • The waiter brought our drinks on a silver tray.
    • Please take the document tray to the filing cabinet.
    • She served breakfast in bed on a wooden tray.
Advanced Usage
  • "In-tray" and "Out-tray": Specific types of trays used in offices to organize incoming and outgoing documents or mail.
    • My in-tray is full of papers that need to be reviewed.
  • "Tray table": A small, folding table, often on an airplane or hospital bed, that serves as a surface from a tray-like structure.
    • Please return your tray table to its upright position.
Variants and Related Words
  • Trayful (n): The amount that a tray can hold.
    • He carried a trayful of cookies.
  • Ash tray / Ashtray (n): A small receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts. (Note: This is a compound word listed here as a related item, not as a direct definition of "tray").
  • Serving tray (n): A tray specifically designed for serving food and drinks.
Synonyms
  • Platter: A large, flat dish or plate, often used for serving food. (A platter is usually larger and may not have raised edges like a typical tray).
  • Salver: A flat tray, typically made of silver or another metal, used for serving food or drinks formally.
Phrasal Verbs

(The word "tray" is a noun and does not form standard phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms that centrally feature the word "tray" in isolation.)

tray

A waiter carries a full tray of drinks across the restaurant.

Noun
  1. an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food