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.)

Noun

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