gate
GAYT
Gate (noun) means a movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall, fence, or entrance. Example: “She latched the garden gate behind her.”
noun
1
A movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall, fence, or entrance.
"She latched the garden gate behind her."
"Security guards checked IDs at the factory gate."
"The farmer left the field gate open, and the sheep wandered onto the road."
2
The numbered area at an airport where passengers board a flight.
"Our flight is boarding at gate 22."
"The board says our gate has changed, so we need to hurry to the other end."
"I waited at the gate for an hour because my flight was delayed."
3
The total number of tickets sold, or money earned, for an event.
"The championship match drew a record gate."
"Rain kept the gate low at Saturday's game, and the club lost money."
"The charity concert raised a healthy gate that went straight to the new school."
verb
1
To control or restrict access to something.
"The new policy gates access to the software's advanced features."
"The website gates its premium videos behind a free sign-up form."
"Some schools gate their playgrounds at night to keep strangers out."
How to use gate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA barrier that opens and closes an entrance, or (by extension) an airport boarding point or a way of controlling access.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
open the gate
boarding gate
gate agent
gated access
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like gate.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- gates
- Third person singular
- gates
- Past tense
- gated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She latched the garden _____ behind her.
Etymology
From Old English geat ("opening, gap"), related to Old Norse and Dutch words for "hole."
Related words
Rhymes for gate
See all rhymes for gate →Frequently asked questions
What does “gate” mean?
The word “gate” means a movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall, fence, or entrance. In plain terms, a barrier that opens and closes an entrance, or (by extension) an airport boarding point or a way of controlling access.
How do you pronounce “gate”?
“Gate” is pronounced GAYT (/ˈɡeɪ̯t/ in IPA).
How do you use “gate” in a sentence?
Here is “gate” used in a sentence: “She latched the garden gate behind her.”
What part of speech is “gate”?
Depending on how it is used, “gate” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gate” come from?
The word “gate” comes from Old English. From Old English geat ("opening, gap"), related to Old Norse and Dutch words for "hole.".
Is “gate” a common word?
“Gate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “gate” have?
“Gate” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a movable barrier that closes an opening in a wall, fence, or entrance.
What is the difference between a gate and a door?
A door is a solid barrier that closes the entrance to a building or room. A gate is usually an outdoor barrier set in a wall, fence, or hedge, giving access to a garden, field, or yard. Gates are often open in design, such as bars or railings, while doors are typically solid.
What are the types of gates?
Gates come in many forms. Common ones include swing gates that pivot on hinges, sliding gates that roll sideways, garden and farm gates, and security or automatic gates. The word also names other things, such as an airport departure gate or a starting gate in horse racing.
What is a gate used for?
A gate controls access through an opening in a barrier. It lets people, vehicles, or animals pass when open and blocks them when closed. Gates provide security, keep livestock or pets contained, mark a boundary or entrance, and manage the flow of people in places like stadiums and airports.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include gate:
