plaque

noun

\ 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

While it hasn't been confirmed whether the kids of New Ham are actually dead, this would likely fit the last scene of the show where the plaque was seen in their memory. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "Here are All the Crazy Theories About "The Society" Season 1 Finale," 21 May 2019 The discreet plaque beside the office door read: Chief Liaison Officer to the Japanese Government, Charles Yardley III. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "Two unlikely cops are paired up to solve murders in a war-torn Tokyo in Ninth Step Station," 8 Dec. 2018 Last September, Harvard unveiled a plaque honoring the unnamed people enslaved by one of the school’s early benefactors. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Charleston, South Carolina, Formally Apologizes for Its Role in the Slave Trade," 20 June 2018 The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco unveiled the plaque on Monday night. — Houston Chronicle, "Fans: Plaque makes Brandi Chastain look like Gary Busey," 22 May 2018 The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame unveiled a plaque Monday honoring soccer star Brandi Chastain. — Don Sweeney, sacbee, "Does plaque honoring Brandi Chastain look more like Mickey Rooney? Maybe Gary Busey? | The Sacramento Bee," 22 May 2018 Jerusalem Embassy Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin claps as US President's daughter Ivanka Trump unveils an inauguration plaque during the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. — Ryan Teague Beckwith, Time, "President Trump Still Thinks Like a Real Estate Developer. Here's How That Helps Him," 20 May 2018 Memphis officials unveiled a plaque Wednesday morning marking the childhood home of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. — Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, "Jennifer Hudson will portray Aretha Franklin in new movie," 29 Jan. 2018 First Lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese Ambassador, formally planted the first two Yoshino cherry trees at the Tidal Basin in 1912, where a plaque remains today to commemorate the event. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "How Cherry Blossoms Became the Most Celebrated Event of the Spring," 2 Apr. 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

9 Jun 2019

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The first known use of plaque was in 1845

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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