gate
1- 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.
Idioms about gate
- 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
1WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gate
gait, gateOther definitions for gate (2 of 3)
Other definitions for gate (3 of 3)
WORDS THAT USE -GATE
What does -gate mean?
The combining form –gate is used like a suffix meaning “scandal (often resulting from a concealed crime)” or “controversy.” It is often used in informal terms, especially in politics and journalism.
The form –gate comes from a shortened form of Watergate, a reference to the White House political scandal that came to light during the 1972 presidential campaign. The scandal centered on a break-in at the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate apartment-office complex in Washington, D.C., and, after congressional hearings, culminated in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.
Examples of -gate
An example of a word you may have encountered that features –gate is Deflategate, a term given to the allegation that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ordered the deliberate deflation of footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship Game.
The deflate– part of the word means “to release the air or gas from.” As we have already seen, –gate is a combining form meaning “scandal.” Deflategate literally means “deflation scandal.”
What are some words that use the combining form –gate?
- Bridgegate
- Choppergate
- Pizzagate
- Spygate
- Taxigate
- Zippergate
What are some other forms that –gate may be commonly confused with?
Not every word that ends with the exact letters –gate, such as corrugate or subjugate, is necessarily using the combining form –gate to denote “scandal.” Learn why subjugate means “to bring under control” at our entry for the word.
Break it down!
Given the meaning of –gate, what does Taxigate likely refer to?
How to use gate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for gate (1 of 4)
Derived forms of gate
gateless, adjectivegatelike, adjectiveWord Origin for gate
British Dictionary definitions for gate (2 of 4)
Word Origin for gate
British Dictionary definitions for gate (3 of 4)
Word Origin for gate
British Dictionary definitions for gate (4 of 4)
Word Origin for -gate
Other Idioms and Phrases with gate
see crash the gate; give someone the air (gate).