gate

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈgāt 

1

: an opening in a wall or fence

2

: a city or castle entrance often with defensive structures (such as towers)

3

a

: the frame or door that closes a gate

b

: a movable barrier (as at a grade crossing)

4

a

: a means of entrance or exit

b

: starting gate

c

: an area (as at a railroad station or an airport) for departure or arrival

d

: a space between two markers through which a competitor must pass in the course of a slalom race

5

a

: a door, valve, or other device for controlling the passage especially of a fluid

b(1)

: an electronic switch that allows or prevents the flow of current in a circuit compare base entry 1, drain entry 2, source entry 1

(2)

: an electrode in a field-effect transistor that modulates the current flowing through the transistor according to the voltage applied to the electrode compare drain, source

c

: a device (as in a computer) that outputs a signal when specified input conditions are met

logic gate

d

: a molecule or part of a molecule that acts (as by a change in conformation) in response to a stimulus to permit or block passage (as of ions) through a cell membrane

6

slang : dismissal

—used in the phrases get the gate and give one the gate

If he does get the gate, expect him to have another job in the league by lunchtime.

—Bill Williamson

The boss gave him the gate after one too many unexcused absences.

7

: the total admission receipts or the number of spectators (as at a sports event)

gate

2 of 4

verb

gated; gating

transitive verb

1

British : to confine to a campus or dormitory

2

: to supply with a gate

3

: to control with a gate

gate

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

archaic : way, path

2

dialect : method, style

-gate

4 of 4

noun combining form

ˌgāt

: usually political scandal often involving the concealment of wrongdoing

Irangate

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• door
• hatch
• portal

Examples of gate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Coach Mark Daigneault had a similar reaction when asked if the matter would be a distraction for the team, which is 7-0 at home out of the gate and faces the 76ers at the Paycom Center on Saturday. —Dennis Romero, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2023

His workers had acclimated to the occasional rocket flying overhead, but the breaching of the gates was a different story. —Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023

As soon as the electronic driveway gates swing open, there’s a tantalizing glimpse of the Pacific Ocean at 7310 Vista Del Mar Avenue in La Jolla, California. —Mark David, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023

The initial investigation revealed that the metal gate was disconnected from its support which led to the incident, which remains under investigation. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023

Producers are upping security measures in response to the growing thefts by installing new gates or guarding fields through harvest seasons. —Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 20 Nov. 2023

Upon arrival to the gate, I was met with celebrations — a balloon arch for photo opportunities, refreshments, and a podium set up for remarks — to kick off the new route. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023

There will also be credit card readers at the gate. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2023

Dolce Zel was the 8-to-5 favorite before breaking through the gate. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2023

Verb

History shows that even the strongest walls built to gate off empires, nations and cities—Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall—eventually become ruins. —Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023

The Obama administration closed the parks entirely during a 16-day shutdown in 2013, gating off the National Mall and closing the Statue of Liberty. —Jack Healy, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023

The tiny neighborhood is gated and private, though the gates are rarely closed, and maintains private security. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023

The site is in the Black Rock Desert, hundreds of miles from Reno and gated by the tiny, nearby towns of Empire and Gerlach and the ghost town of Sulphur. —Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 7 Sep. 2023

Before the Ravens’ season opener on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Houston Texans, Springsteen will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with Oriole Park gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Resale tickets are available on Ticketmaster starting at $113 (including fees). —Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 5 Sep. 2023

Though Hope Ranch is not gated and beaches in California are public, at least up to the high tide mark, there is no public beach access within the equestrian enclave that runs along a high bluff above the ocean. —Mark David, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2023

Walled, gated and set high above the street, the Laurel Canyon home is admirably private. —James McClain, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2023

Endless bonus features include a rooftop deck, five-car showroom in addition to the upper 2 car garage and 7+ gated off street spots. —Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English geat; akin to Old Norse gat opening

Noun (2)

Middle English, borrowed from Old Norse gata, going back to North and West Germanic *gatōn- (whence also Middle Low German gate "lane, street," Old High German gazza), East Germanic *gatwōn- (whence Gothic gatwo "street"), etymon of uncertain origin

Noun combining form

Watergate

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gate

• get the gate
• give one the gate
• gate-crasher
• lych-gate
• lich-gate
• starting gate
• water gate

• get the gate
• give one the gate
• gate-crasher
• lych-gate
• lich-gate
• starting gate
• water gate

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Kids Definition

gate

noun

ˈgāt

1

: an opening in a wall or fence

2

: a city or castle entrance often with defensive structures

3

: the frame or door that closes a gate

4

: a means of entrance or exit

5

: a door, valve, or other device for controlling the passage of fluid

6

: the total admission receipts or the number of spectators especially at a sports event

Medical Definition

gate

1 of 2 noun

ˈgāt 

: a molecule or part of a molecule (as an amino acid sequence in a protein) that acts (as by a change in conformation) in response to a stimulus to permit or block passage through a cell membrane

gate

2 of 2 transitive verb

gated; gating

: to control passage through a cell membrane by way of (a specific channel) by supplying a specific stimulus

a transmembrane ion channel gated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine

see ligand-gated, voltage-gated