plaque
noun
\
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers have dated the plaque to the Roman times, likely before before the 3rd century AD, the Greek culture ministry said on Tuesday. — Laignee Barron, Time, "Archaeologists Find What Could be the Oldest Written Record of Homer's 'Odyssey'," 11 July 2018 Trees and benches, with dedicatory plaques, are the most common donations that appear in parks, at beaches, on trails and along streets. — Hillary Davis, latimes.com, "Newport Beach City Council considers increasing fees for fire inspections," 11 July 2018 The crowns of the title — there are five — look like antique versions of astronaut headgear: gilded copper helmets, each studded with gems, encrusted with repoussé plaques, and topped by five-pronged antennas — the vajra or thunderbolt of wisdom. — New York Times, "The Art of Staying Cool: 10 Can’t-Miss Summer Shows in New York," 4 July 2018 For decades the graves went unacknowledged: no markers, no plaques, no memorials. — Matías Costa, Smithsonian, "The Battle Over the Memory of the Spanish Civil War," 28 June 2018 Mice infected with these herpes viruses quickly accumulate beta amyloid plaques, too. — Melinda Wenner Moyer, Scientific American, "Harder Evidence Builds that Viruses Play a Role in Alzheimer’s," 21 June 2018 The city will place a memorial plaque in place of the guns, at the suggestion of a VFW Post in Ballard, Shulkin said. — Christine Clarridge, The Seattle Times, "Seattle war memorial to lose battle guns, drawing criticism even as city cites safety, costs," 18 June 2018 According to a plaque, the bridge was constructed by A.M. Kennedy and Sons in 1878 and originally stood over the Flat Rock River, south of Milroy, Ind. — Cain Buchmeier, Post-Tribune, "Milroy Bridge dedication postponed after new graffiti discovered," 13 June 2018 Earlier this year, a couple was charged with pilfering a memorial to victims at Stoneman Douglas, taking teddy bears, plaques, pinwheels and other tokens of remembrance. — Skyler Swisher, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Profiting from pain: 'Murderabilia' has macabre appeal to collectors," 13 June 2018These 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.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
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
\
Kids Definition of plaque
1 : a flat thin piece (as of metal) with writing on it that serves as a memorial of something
2 : a sticky usually colorless thin film on the teeth that is formed by and contains bacteria
plaque
noun
\
Medical Definition of plaque
1a : a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface and especially on the skin psoriatic plaque
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
— called also
senile plaque
2 : a visibly distinct and especially a clear or opaque area in a bacterial culture produced by damage to or destruction of cells by a virus
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on plaque
What made you want to look up plaque? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Musical Words Quiz
-
- Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share plaque
Resources for plaque