gate

[ geyt ]

/ geɪt /

noun

a movable barrier, usually on hinges, closing an opening in a fence, wall, or other enclosure.

an opening permitting passage through an enclosure.

a tower, architectural setting, etc., for defending or adorning such an opening or for providing a monumental entrance to a street, park, etc.: the gates of the walled city; the palace gate.

any means of access or entrance: The gate to stardom is talent.

a mountain pass.

any movable barrier, as at a tollbooth or a road or railroad crossing.

a gateway or passageway in a passenger terminal or pier that leads to a place for boarding a train, plane, or ship.

a sliding barrier for regulating the passage of water, steam, or the like, as in a dam or pipe; valve.

Skiing.

an obstacle in a slalom race, consisting of two upright poles anchored in the snow a certain distance apart.
the opening between these poles, through which a competitor in a slalom race must ski.

the total number of persons who pay for admission to an athletic contest, a performance, an exhibition, etc.

the total receipts from such admissions.

Cell Biology. a temporary channel in a cell membrane through which substances diffuse into or out of a cell.

Movies. film gate.

a sash or frame for a saw or gang of saws.

Metallurgy.

Also called ingate . a channel or opening in a mold through which molten metal is poured into the mold cavity.
the waste metal left in such a channel after hardening.

Electronics.

a signal that makes an electronic circuit operative or inoperative either for a certain time interval or until another signal is received.
Also called logic gate . a circuit with one output that is activated only by certain combinations of two or more inputs.

verb (used with object), gat·ed, gat·ing.

(at British universities) to punish by confining to the college grounds.

Electronics.

to control the operation of (an electronic device) by means of a gate.
to select the parts of (a wave signal) that are within a certain range of amplitude or within certain time intervals.

verb (used without object), gat·ed, gat·ing.

Metallurgy. to make or use a gate.

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Question 1 of 10

disgruntle

to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength

to put into a state of sulky dissatisfaction

to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.)

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Idioms for gate

get the gate, Slang. to be dismissed, sent away, or rejected.

give (someone) the gate, Slang.

to reject (a person), as one's fiancé, lover, or friend.
to dismiss from one's employ: They gave him the gate because he was caught stealing.

Origin of gate

before 900; Middle English gat, gate,Old English geat (plural gatu); cognate with Low German, Dutch gat hole, breach; cf. gate²

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gate

gait, gate .

Definition for gate (2 of 3)

gate²

[ geyt ]

/ geɪt /

noun

Archaic. a path; way.

North England and Scot.. habitual manner or way of acting.

Origin of gate

1150–1200; Middle English <Old Norse gata path; perhaps akin to Old English geatgate¹; cf. gat³

Definition for gate (3 of 3)

-gate

a combining form extracted from Watergate, occurring as the final element in journalistic coinages, usually nonce words, that name scandals resulting from concealed crime or other alleged improprieties in government or business: Koreagate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for gate (1 of 4)

gate¹

/ (ɡeɪt) /

noun

a movable barrier, usually hinged, for closing an opening in a wall, fence, etc

an opening to allow passage into or out of an enclosed place

any means of entrance or access

a mountain pass or gap, esp one providing entry into another country or region

the number of people admitted to a sporting event or entertainment
the total entrance money received from them

(in a large airport) any of the numbered exits leading to the airfield or aircraftpassengers for Paris should proceed to gate 14

horse racing short for starting gate

electronics

a logic circuit having one or more input terminals and one output terminal, the output being switched between two voltage levels determined by the combination of input signals
a circuit used in radar that allows only a fraction of the input signal to pass

the electrode region or regions in a field-effect transistor that is biased to control the conductivity of the channel between the source and drain

a component in a motion-picture camera or projector that holds each frame flat and momentarily stationary behind the lens

a slotted metal frame that controls the positions of the gear lever in a motor vehicle

rowing a hinged clasp to prevent the oar from jumping out of a rowlock

a frame surrounding the blade or blades of a saw

verb (tr)

to provide with a gate or gates

British to restrict (a student) to the school or college grounds as a punishment

to select (part of a waveform) in terms of amplitude or time

Derived forms of gate

gateless, adjectivegatelike, adjective

Word Origin for gate

Old English geat; related to Old Frisian jet opening, Old Norse gat opening, passage

British Dictionary definitions for gate (2 of 4)

gate²

/ (ɡeɪt) /

noun dialect

the channels by which molten metal is poured into a mould

the metal that solidifies in such channels

Word Origin for gate

C17: probably related to Old English gyte a pouring out, geotan to pour

British Dictionary definitions for gate (3 of 4)

gate³

/ (ɡeɪt) /

noun Scot and Northern English dialect

a way, road, street, or path

a way or method of doing something

Word Origin for gate

C13: from Old Norse gata path; related to Old High German gazza road, street

British Dictionary definitions for gate (4 of 4)

-gate

n combining form

indicating a person or thing that has been the cause of, or is associated with, a public scandalIrangate; Camillagate

Word Origin for -gate

C20: on the analogy of Watergate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with gate

gate

see crash the gate; give someone the air (gate).

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gate

noun

verb (used with object), gat·ed, gat·ing.

verb (used without object), gat·ed, gat·ing.