hot plate

American  

noun

1. a portable appliance for cooking, formerly heated by a gas burner placed underneath it, now heated chiefly by an electrical unit in the appliance.

2. a hot meal, usually consisting of meat, potato, and a vegetable, served all on one plate and usually at a set price at a restaurant or lunch counter.

3. a plate that can retain heat in order to keep food hot.

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Etymology

Origin of hot plate

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Here’s how it works: That warmer western Pacific acts like a hot plate under the atmosphere, creating rising air that sends waves rippling eastward, like dropping a stone in a pond.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2025

Since flights usually last eight hours, the crew members bring plenty of snack food, and there is a microwave, refrigerator and a hot plate for cooking more elaborate meals.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024

It’s faster and prettier than a regular hot plate.

From Slate • Apr. 7, 2024

The researchers used infrared cameras to record the mosquitoes landing on each hot plate, “which is a good sign that they’re ready to bite,” Dr. McMeniman said.

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2023

Like, what a zip code or a hot plate is.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy