plating

noun

plat·​ing ˈplā-tiŋ 

1

: the act or process of plating

2

a

: a coating of metal plates

b

: a thin coating of metal

Examples of plating in a Sentence

spoons covered in silver plating

Recent Examples on the Web

Discoveries made during previous excavations of the wreck site include fragments of utensils, fragments of the external copper plating once attached to the ship's hull and a clay slab that officials say likely helped with some kind of insulation. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

All that said, heavy underpinnings and armor plating cost weight. —Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026

If they are made of iron or steel, the fixtures begin to rust as soon as the plating is chipped, scratched, or worn away. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026

However, the technology has not reached its potential due to issues such as unstable lithium plating and reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface, which shorten battery life and raise safety concerns. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for plating

• baiting
• bating
• crating
• dating
• freighting
• gating
• grating
• hating
• mating
• plaiting
• prating
• rating

Kids Definition

plating

noun

plat·​ing

ˈplāt-iŋ

1

: the act or process of covering especially with metal plate

2

: a coating of metal plates or plate

armor plating

the plating wore off the spoons

Medical Definition

plating

noun

plat·​ing ˈplāt-iŋ 

1

: the spreading of a sample of cells or microorganisms on a nutrient medium in a petri dish

2

: the immobilization of a fractured bone by securing a metal plate to it