noun
Common
plates
playts
Plates (noun) means a vehicle's license plates, or the number/registration itself. Example: “The police asked the garage to check the plates on the stolen van.”
noun
1
A vehicle's license plates, or the number/registration itself.
"The police asked the garage to check the plates on the stolen van."
"He jotted down the plates of the lorry that had blocked the road."
"Witnesses noted the plates of the car as it sped off."
How to use plates
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort for license plates.
Common pairings
front plates
run the plates
personalised plates
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The police asked the garage to check the _____ on the stolen van.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for plates
See all rhymes for plates →Frequently asked questions
What does “plates” mean?
The word “plates” means a vehicle's license plates, or the number/registration itself. In plain terms, short for license plates.
How do you pronounce “plates”?
“Plates” is pronounced playts (/pleɪts/ in IPA).
How do you use “plates” in a sentence?
Here is “plates” used in a sentence: “Witnesses noted the plates of the car as it sped off.”
What part of speech is “plates”?
“Plates” is a noun.
Is “plates” a common word?
“Plates” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'plates' and 'license plates'?
'Plates' is a common informal shortening of 'license plates', the signs displaying a vehicle's registration number. In everyday speech, both refer to the same thing.
What is the difference between 'plates' and 'number plates'?
They mean the same thing. 'Number plates' is the usual British term and 'license plates' the American term, while 'plates' is the informal short form of both.
Does 'plates' refer to the metal signs or the registration number?
It can mean either. 'Plates' refers to the physical registration signs fixed to a vehicle and, by extension, to the number or registration they display.
Is 'plates' always plural when talking about a vehicle?
Usually, because a vehicle typically displays a sign at the front and rear, so drivers speak of their 'plates'. A single sign is a 'plate', but the pair, or the registration in general, is called 'plates'.
