Definition of 'gate'

Word Frequency

gate

(geɪt )

Word forms: plural gates

1. countable noun

A gate is a structure like a door which is used at the entrance to a field, a garden, or the grounds of a building.

He opened the gate and started walking up to the house.

Synonyms: barrier, opening, door, access More Synonyms of gate

2. countable noun

In an airport, a gate is a place where passengers leave the airport and get on their aeroplane.

Passengers with hand luggage can go straight to the departure gate to check in there.

3. countable noun

Gate is used in the names of streets in Britain that are in a place where there once was a gate into a city.

...9 Palace Gate.

4. countable noun

The gate at a sporting event such as a football match or baseball game is the total number of people who attend it.

Their average gate is less than 23,000.

Video: pronunciation of
gate

gate in British English 1

(ɡeɪt )

noun

a movable barrier, usually hinged, for closing an opening in a wall, fence, etc

an opening to allow passage into or out of an enclosed place

any means of entrance or access

a mountain pass or gap, esp one providing entry into another country or region

the number of people admitted to a sporting event or entertainment

the total entrance money received from them

(in a large airport) any of the numbered exits leading to the airfield or aircraft

passengers for Paris should proceed to gate 14

7. horse racing short for starting gate

8. electronics

a logic circuit having one or more input terminals and one output terminal, the output being switched between two voltage levels determined by the combination of input signals

a circuit used in radar that allows only a fraction of the input signal to pass

the electrode region or regions in a field-effect transistor that is biased to control the conductivity of the channel between the source and drain

10.

a component in a motion-picture camera or projector that holds each frame flat and momentarily stationary behind the lens

11.

a slotted metal frame that controls the positions of the gear lever in a motor vehicle

12. rowing

a hinged clasp to prevent the oar from jumping out of a rowlock

13.

a frame surrounding the blade or blades of a saw

verb (transitive)

14.

to provide with a gate or gates

15. British

to restrict (a student) to the school or college grounds as a punishment

16.

to select (part of a waveform) in terms of amplitude or time

Derived forms

gateless (ˈgateless)

adjective

gatelike (ˈgateˌlike)

adjective

Word origin

Old English geat; related to Old Frisian jet opening, Old Norse gat opening, passage

Word Frequency

gate in British English 2

(ɡeɪt )

noun dialect

the channels by which molten metal is poured into a mould

the metal that solidifies in such channels

Word origin

C17: probably related to Old English gyte a pouring out, geotan to pour

Word Frequency

gate in British English 3

(ɡeɪt )

noun Scottish and Northern England dialect

a way, road, street, or path

a way or method of doing something

Word origin

C13: from Old Norse gata path; related to Old High German gazza road, street

Word Frequency

-gate in British English

combining form in countable noun

indicating a person or thing that has been the cause of, or is associated with, a public scandal

Irangate

Camillagate

Word origin

C20: on the analogy of Watergate

Word Frequency

gate in American English 1

(geɪt )

noun

a movable framework or solid structure, esp. one that swings on hinges, controlling entrance or exit through an opening in a fence or wall

an opening providing passageway through a fence or wall, with or without such a structure; gateway

any means of entrance, exit, or access, as any of the numbered exits at an airport terminal

a mountain pass

a movable barrier, as at a railroad crossing or for controlling the start of a horse race

a structure controlling the flow of water, as in a pipe, canal, etc.

7. US

a frame in which a saw or saws are set

in Alpine racing, an opening between two upright poles through which the skier must pass

the total amount of money received in admission prices to a performance or exhibition

the total number of spectators who pay to see such an event

10. Electricity

a circuit with one output and two or more inputs, whose output is energized only when certain input conditions are satisfied

an electrode in some semiconductors, esp. an FET, that controls the flow of current

verb transitiveWord forms: ˈgated or ˈgating

11. British

to confine (a student) to the college grounds

Idioms:

give (or get) the gate

Word origin

ME < OE gatu, pl. of geat, a gate, akin to OFris jet, Du & ON gat, opening

Word Frequency

gate in American English 2

(geɪt )

noun

a channel through which molten metal is poured into a mold

the waste part of a casting formed at this channel

Word origin

altered (infl. by gate1) < OE gyte, a pouring forth, akin to geotan, to pour: for IE base see found

Word Frequency

gate in American English 3

(geɪt )

noun Dialectal

a road or path

a way of doing something

Word origin

ME < ON gata: see gait

Word Frequency

-gate in American English

(geɪt )

a scandal characterized by charges of corruption or illegal acts carried out, usually in a covert manner, by people with power or influence

Koreagate

Word origin

< Watergate

Word Frequency

gate in American English 1

(ɡeit) (verb gated, gating)

noun

a movable barrier, usually on hinges, closing an opening in a fence, wall, or other enclosure

an opening permitting passage through an enclosure

a tower, architectural setting, etc., for defending or adorning such an opening or for providing a monumental entrance to a street, park, etc

the gates of the walled city

the palace gate

any means of access or entrance

The gate to stardom is talent

a mountain pass

any movable barrier, as at a tollbooth or a road or railroad crossing

a gateway or passageway in a passenger terminal or pier that leads to a place for boarding a train, plane, or ship

a sliding barrier for regulating the passage of water, steam, or the like, as in a dam or pipe; valve

9. Skiing

an obstacle in a slalom race, consisting of two upright poles anchored in the snow a certain distance apart

the opening between these poles, through which a competitor in a slalom race must ski

10.

the total number of persons who pay for admission to an athletic contest, a performance, an exhibition, etc

11.

the total receipts from such admissions

12. Biology

a temporary channel in a cell membrane through which substances diffuse into or out of a cell

13. Films See film gate

14.

a sash or frame for a saw or gang of saws

15. Metallurgy

a. Also called: ingate

a channel or opening in a mold through which molten metal is poured into the mold cavity

the waste metal left in such a channel after hardening

16. Electronics

a signal that makes an electronic circuit operative or inoperative either for a certain time interval or until another signal is received

b. Also called: logic gate

a circuit with one output that is activated only by certain combinations of two or more inputs

17. See get the gate

18. See give (someone) the gate

transitive verb

19. (at British universities)

to punish by confining to the college grounds

20. Electronics

to control the operation of (an electronic device) by means of a gate

to select the parts of (a wave signal) that are within a certain range of amplitude or within certain time intervals

intransitive verb

21. Metallurgy

to make or use a gate

Word origin

[bef. 900; ME gat, gate, OE geat (pl. gatu); c. LG, D gat hole, breach; cf. gate2]

Word Frequency

gate in American English 2

(ɡeit)

noun

1. archaic

a path; way

2. Northern English & Scot

habitual manner or way of acting

Word origin

[1150–1200; ME ‹ ON gata path; perh. akin to OE geat gate1; cf. gat3]

Word Frequency

-gate in American English

combining form

a combining form extracted from Watergate, occurring as the final element in journalistic coinages, usually nonce words, that name scandals resulting from concealed crime or other alleged improprieties in government or business

Koreagate