n 1  :  a thin relatively flat piece or lamina (as of bone) that is part of the body  2 a  :  a flat glass dish used chiefly for culturing microorganisms : esp  :  PETRI DISH  b  :  a culture or culture medium contained in such a dish  3  :  a supporting or reinforcing element: as  a  :  the part of a denture that fits in the mouth : broadly  :  DENTURE  b  :  a thin flat narrow piece of metal (as stainless steel) that is used to repair a bone defect or fracture
vt, plat*ed  plat*ing  1  :  to inoculate and culture (microorganisms or cells) on a plate : also  :  to distribute (an inoculum) on a plate or plates for cultivation  2  :  to repair (as a fractured bone) with metal plates .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  pal·ate  palati  pal·li·ate  pel·let 
 
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