plaque

noun

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\ ˈplak

Definition of plaque

1a : an ornamental brooch especially : the badge of an honorary order

b : a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration

c : a commemorative or identifying inscribed tablet

2a : a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface

b : a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria

c : an atherosclerotic lesion

d : a histopathologic lesion of brain tissue that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and consists of a dense proteinaceous core composed primarily of beta-amyloid that is often surrounded and infiltrated by a cluster of degenerating axons and dendrites

3 : a clear area in a bacterial culture produced by viral destruction of cells

Examples of plaque in a Sentence

A bronze plaque marked the city's oldest building. They gave him a plaque in honor of his 30 years of service. Brushing your teeth prevents the buildup of plaque. The scientists are studying the way the plaques form.

Recent Examples on the Web The plaque notes his final resting place in the columbarium near the Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea. — Maddie Capron And Justin Lear, CNN, "A plaque dedicated to Matthew Shepard installed at Washington National Cathedral," 4 Dec. 2019 The Pioneer plaque gives a hint in the form of a basic diagram of a hydrogen atom, the magnetic polarity of which flips at regular intervals, with a frequency of 1,420MHz. — The Economist, "How to talk to aliens," 28 Nov. 2019 In addition to the plaque, Shea said the park still needs some touch up work, including seeding in some areas and sand infill between the brick pavers. — Emily Brindley, courant.com, "Simsbury’s flower bridge reopens, new park debuts after months of construction," 27 Nov. 2019 Around the Cercos household, the plaques go up on the wall and don’t get talked about much. — Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "For these San Francisco firefighters, bravery runs in the family," 20 Nov. 2019 The plaque was removed and refurbished and is being featured in a more visible area. — USA TODAY, "El Paso memorial, hogs by helicopter, trees for troops: News from around our 50 states," 14 Nov. 2019 So be sure to use keratolytic moisturizers as directed and only on the thickest plaques rather than across large swaths of skin. 4. — Sara Coughlin, SELF, "9 Tips for Managing a Psoriasis Flare-Up That Dermatologists Swear By," 5 Nov. 2019 Most Alzheimer’s drug development has focused on attacking the beta-amyloid plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients, which are thought to interfere with neural signaling. — Kelly Servick, Science | AAAS, "Alzheimer’s experts greet China’s surprise approval of a drug for brain disease with hope and caution," 5 Nov. 2019 The News Journal of Wilmington reports the plaque dedicated to laborer George White was unveiled Sunday, replacing one stolen over the summer. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Replacement unveiled for Delaware’s stolen lynching memorial," 21 Oct. 2019

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

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Last Updated

8 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Plaque.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaque. Accessed 14 December 2019.

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More Definitions for plaque

plaque

noun

English Language Learners Definition of plaque

: a flat, thin piece of metal or wood with writing on it that is used especially as a reminder of something (such as a historic event or an achievement)

: a thin coating that forms on teeth and contains bacteria

medical : a change in brain tissue that occurs in Alzheimer's disease

See the full definition for plaque in the English Language Learners Dictionary

plaque

noun

\ ˈplak