plaque

noun

1
a
: 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
2
a
: 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 Griffiths also suffered from atherosclerosis, which meant that his arteries were clogged with plaque. Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 22 Sep. 2024 Derrick Davis, chief of staff and senior adviser to New York State Senator Leroy Comrie of District 14 in Queens, presented LL with a plaque to honor his commitment to the neighborhood. Shaheem Reid, Variety, 20 Sep. 2024 The brainchild of American astronomer Carl Sagan, the plaques were etched with a visual message – including a naked man and woman and a schematic of our Solar System – in case one of the craft bumped into intelligent extraterrestrial life on its travels. New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2024 The pop singer’s latest studio effort was aided by years of singles that had been racking up sales and streams, and all those hits made sure the title won a gold plaque almost instantly. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for plaque 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plaque.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, metal sheet, from plaquer to plate, from Middle Dutch placken to piece, patch; akin to Middle Dutch placke piece, Middle High German placke patch

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of plaque was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near plaque

Cite this Entry

“Plaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaque. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

plaque

noun
1
: an ornamental pin
especially : an honorary badge
2
: a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration or inscribed as a memorial or marker
3
: a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and contains bacteria

Medical Definition

plaque

noun
variants also placque
1
a
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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