crate [cratecratescratedcrating] noun, verb BrE [kreɪt] NAmE [kreɪt] noun 1. a large wooden container for transporting goods •a crate of bananas 2. a container made of plastic or metal divided into small sections, for transporting or storing bottles •a beer crate 3. the amount of sth contained in a crate •They drank two crates of beer.
Word Origin: late Middle English: perhaps related to Dutch krat ‘tailboard of a wagon’, earlier ‘box of a coach’, of unknown origin.
Example Bank: •Their possessions had all been packed into shipping crates. •They packed the books into the crates. •They stacked the crates in the corner of the yard. •a company specializing in shipping crates •a crate of oranges •An old man was sitting on an upturned beer crate. •The spider was found hiding in a crate of bananas.
verb ~ sth (up) to pack sth in a ↑crate Verb forms:
Word Origin: late Middle English: perhaps related to Dutch krat ‘tailboard of a wagon’, earlier ‘box of a coach’, of unknown origin.
Example Bank: •Any extra parts will have to be crated and shipped separately.