crate

noun

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\ ˈkrāt

plural crates

Definition of crate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : an open box typically of wooden slats or latticed plastic and used for transporting and storing goods a crate of oranges — see also milk crate

b : a usually wooden protective case or framework used for shipping a packing crate She purchased ten shipping crates made with wood edges and plastic-covered cardboard sides, all neatly broken down for easy assembly.— Tom Clancy

2 : a usually box-shaped container or cage that has openings for airflow and that is used for confining or carrying animals (such as dogs or cats) The store carries a variety of pet crates. Teach children to let resting dogs lie and to stay out of dog crates, beds and other resting places that are designated for the dog.— John Elder

3 informal + somewhat old-fashioned : a dilapidated old car or airplane George Bernard's most immediate concern is not the war, but his failing car battery. He can hardly get his old crate cranked up, and a new battery costs $300 …— Phil McCombs From Blake: "I am not sure this crate will fly. Dump everything out." … In our compartment Doug yanks up his bombing sight, opens the floor hatch and tosses it.— Williamson Murray

crate

verb

crated; crating; crates

Definition of crate (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to pack or place in a crate crating items for shipping Of course the ideal answer would seem to be to crate the dog. But with so many cars now being overly small, there may be no way to get a crate into a vehicle.— Eleanor Price

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing crate Learn More About crate

Examples of crate in a Sentence

Noun The bear arrived at the zoo in a crate. Each milk crate holds nine bottles. They used a crate of oranges to make enough juice for everyone. One day the old crate just wouldn't start. Verb The equipment was crated today and will be shipped tomorrow.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In the back seat, Daisy, her chicken, sat in her crate. — Arlyssa Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2022 There’s Vivian, a one-eyed, German Shepherd mix with heartworms who curls up in the back of her crate and watches people pass by. — Annie Blanks, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Apr. 2022 But instead of showing festivalgoers, the image featured farm worker Albam Ochoa holding a crate of dates. — Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2022 The visual culture that produced the crate of prints in my basement now seems as remote as the glass-plate image of the Victorian lady. — Hari Kunzru, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021 Mansory has also ditched the Roma's body-color egg-crate grille for black mesh. — Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 18 Mar. 2022 TikTok also recently removed the hashtag and videos of the milk crate challenge, in which people were climbing pyramids made of milk crates and often falling, which led to some injuries. — NBC News, 17 Dec. 2021 The milk crate challenge is taking over social media, with videos of people attempting -- and usually failing -- to walk up and over a pyramid of milk crates. — Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2021 In addition to health experts' reminders to get vaccinated, Showalter's message to parents is to stay safe — wearing helmets and avoiding things like the TikTok crate challenge — and keep an eye on their children's mental health. — Rashika Jaipuriar, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Aug. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Alongside McDonalds, a whole slew of companies in the food and beverage industry—Costco, K-Mart, Heinz, Sodexo, Kraft, Carl’s Jr, Denny’s and more (pdf)—had all set the goal of transitioning to crate-free pork production in 2012. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2022 The military had been working for weeks to shrink-wrap attack helicopters, crate hundreds of armored Humvees, pack up the computers, and operate burn pits where sensitive paperwork and classified documents could be destroyed. — BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2021 The filling is completely made of egg crate orthopedic foam that provides ample air circulation and relieves pressure points on their body. — Lily Gray, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2021 Monkeys and birds prove to be the most troubling to crate, while herding large animals into hurricane-code shelters runs much smoother, Hinson said. — Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, 8 Mar. 2021 At the same time, wind farms across the state froze up, and households heated with natural gas competed with power plants that burn natural gas to crate electricity — a frenzy that dramatically drove up natural gas prices. — Diego Mendoza-moyers, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Feb. 2021 Wingshooters at the end of the day often gather around the truck to case the guns and crate the dogs. — Field & Stream, 30 July 2020 For more information, the Humane Society has a very helpful guide to crate training. — Medea Giordano, Wired, 4 June 2020 However, some homeowners prefer a wood dog crate for in the house, using it both as a decoration and a place to crate their dog. — The Editors, Field & Stream, 8 Apr. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.