English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

crate

krayt

Crate (noun) means a large, sturdy box or open frame used to pack and transport goods. Example: “The workers stacked wooden crates of oranges onto the truck.”

noun
1
A large, sturdy box or open frame used to pack and transport goods.
"The workers stacked wooden crates of oranges onto the truck."
"She kept her old vinyl records in a plastic crate."
2
Informal: an old or unreliable vehicle.
"He joked that his first car was a rusty old crate held together with tape."
verb
1
To pack something into a crate for storage or shipping.
"They crated the antique mirror carefully before the move."

How to use crate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sturdy box for shipping or storing things, or (informally) a beat-up vehicle.

Common pairings
a wooden crate crate of beer crate up

Word forms

crated past tense, crates plural, crates singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “crate” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The workers stacked wooden _____ of oranges onto the truck.

Etymology

From Dutch krat, "large box" or "basket" — related to the English word cart.

Origin: Dutch

Related words

Rhymes for crate

See all rhymes for crate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “crate” mean?

The word “crate” means a large, sturdy box or open frame used to pack and transport goods. In plain terms, a sturdy box for shipping or storing things, or (informally) a beat-up vehicle.

How do you pronounce “crate”?

“Crate” is pronounced krayt (/kɹeɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “crate” in a sentence?

Here is “crate” used in a sentence: “The workers stacked wooden crates of oranges onto the truck.”

What part of speech is “crate”?

Depending on how it is used, “crate” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “crate” come from?

The word “crate” comes from Dutch. From Dutch krat, "large box" or "basket" — related to the English word cart.

Is “crate” a common word?

“Crate” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “crate” have?

“Crate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, sturdy box or open frame used to pack and transport goods.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial