tray

¹ American  

[trey] / treɪ /

noun

1. a flat, shallow container or receptacle made of wood, metal, etc., usually with slightly raised edges, used for carrying, holding, or displaying articles of food, glass, china, etc.

2. a removable receptacle of this shape in a cabinet, box, trunk, or the like, sometimes forming a drawer.

3. a tray and its contents.

   to order a breakfast tray from room service.

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tray ² American  

[trey] / treɪ /

noun

Australian Slang.

1. a coin worth threepence.

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tray British  

/ treɪ /

noun

1. a thin flat board or plate of metal, plastic, etc, usually with a raised edge, on which things can be carried

2. a shallow receptacle for papers, etc, sometimes forming a drawer in a cabinet or box

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Etymology

Origin of tray¹

before 1050; Middle English; Old English trēg, trīg; cognate with Old Swedish trö corn measure; akin to tree

Origin of tray¹

1895–1900; compare earlier argot trey, tray three, a set of three, probably ultimately < Italian tre (< Latin trēs three ); trey

Example Sentences

Polypropylene, labeled as #5 on packaging, is used for yogurt containers, margarine tubs and microwavable trays.

From Los Angeles Times

She didn’t carry a serving tray of tea and cakes or any such refreshment.

From Literature

The charity also recommends providing litter trays inside, even if your cat usually goes outside so they have a warm toileting option.

From BBC

Companies like Everlasting Comfort sell packable “foot hammocks,” which can be hung from your tray table.

From The Wall Street Journal

The authority investigated but said the cats were not governed by the same roaming laws as dogs and livestock and they had visited the cats' owner to check they had access to litter trays.

From BBC

Related Words

• plate