What is a plate?
A plate is a broad, concave, but mainly flat vessel on which food can be served.
A plate can also be used for ceremonial or decorative purposes. Most plates are circular, but they may be any shape or made of any water-resistant material. Generally, plates are raised around the edges, either by a curving up, or a wider lip or raised portion. Vessels with no lip, especially if they have a more rounded profile, are likely to be considered as bowls or dishes, as are very large vessels with a plate shape. Plates are dishware and tableware. Plates in wood, pottery, and metal go back into antiquity in many cultures.
In Western culture and many other cultures, the plate is the typical form of vessel off which food is eaten, and on which it is served if not too liquid. The main rival is the bowl, which predominates for both purposes in South Asian cultures, for example.