noun
Common
dishes
DIH-shihz
Dishes (noun) means Plates, bowls, and other tableware used for a meal, especially when referring to washing them. Example: “Please clear the dishes from the table when you have finished eating.”
noun
1
Plates, bowls, and other tableware used for a meal, especially when referring to washing them.
"Please clear the dishes from the table when you have finished eating."
"We stacked the dirty dishes beside the sink and left them to soak."
"It was his turn to do the dishes after dinner."
How to use dishes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plural of "dish," commonly used for the chore of washing tableware.
Common pairings
do the dishes
wash the dishes
dirty dishes
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Please clear the _____ from the table when you have finished eating.
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Rhymes for dishes
See all rhymes for dishes →Frequently asked questions
What does “dishes” mean?
The word “dishes” means plates, bowls, and other tableware used for a meal, especially when referring to washing them. In plain terms, the plural of "dish," commonly used for the chore of washing tableware.
How do you pronounce “dishes”?
“Dishes” is pronounced DIH-shihz (/ˈdɪʃɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “dishes” in a sentence?
Here is “dishes” used in a sentence: “It was his turn to do the dishes after dinner.”
What part of speech is “dishes”?
“Dishes” is a noun.
Is “dishes” a common word?
“Dishes” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "dishes" and "plates"?
"Plates" are specifically the flat items you serve food on, while "dishes" is a broader word covering plates, bowls, cups, and other tableware, especially when talking about washing them. All plates are dishes, but dishes also include many other items.
What is the difference between "do the dishes" and "wash the dishes"?
Both phrases mean to clean the used plates, bowls, and utensils after a meal, and they are largely interchangeable. "Do the dishes" is a slightly more casual, idiomatic way of saying "wash the dishes."
What is the difference between "dishes" and "crockery"?
"Crockery" is a chiefly British term for plates, bowls, cups, and other ceramic tableware, while "dishes" is a more general, everyday word, often used when referring to washing up. Crockery emphasizes the type of ware, whereas dishes emphasizes the used tableware as a group.
Does "dishes" mean the same as "dish"?
Not always. As tableware, "dishes" is simply the plural of "dish" and refers to plates, bowls, and other items used for a meal. But "dish" can also mean a prepared item of food, so "several dishes" can describe different courses served at a meal.
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