1 N‑COUNT A plateau is a large area of high and fairly flat land. □ A broad valley opened up leading to a high, flat plateau of cultivated land.
2 N‑COUNT If you say that an activity or process has reached a plateau , you mean that it has reached a stage where there is no further change or development. □ The U.S. heroin market now appears to have reached a plateau.
3 VERB If something such as an activity, process, or cost plateaus or plateaus out , it reaches a stage where there is no further change or development. □ [V out ] Evelyn's career is accelerating, and mine is plateauing out a bit. □ [V + at ] The shares plateaued at 153p.
plat|ed /ple I t I d/ ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] If something made of metal is plated with a thin layer of another type of metal, it is covered with it. □ [+ with ] …a range of jewellery, plated with 22-carat nickel-free gold.
-plated /-ple I t I d/
1 COMB Something made of metal that is plated is covered with a thin layer of another type of metal such as gold and silver. □ …a gold-plated watch.
2 → see also armour-plated , gold-plated , silver-plated
plate|ful /ple I tfʊl/ (platefuls ) N‑COUNT A plateful of food is an amount of food that is on a plate and fills it. □ [+ of ] …a plateful of chicken and rice.
pla te gla ss also plate-glass N‑UNCOUNT Plate glass is thick glass made in large, flat pieces, which is used especially to make large windows and doors.
plate|let /ple I tlət/ (platelets ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Platelets are a kind of blood cell. If you cut yourself and you are bleeding, platelets help to stop the bleeding. [TECHNICAL ]
pla te tec|to n|ics N‑UNCOUNT Plate tectonics is the way that large pieces of the Earth's surface move slowly around. [TECHNICAL ]
plat|form ◆◇◇ /plæ tfɔː r m/ (platforms )
1 N‑COUNT A platform is a flat, raised structure, usually made of wood, which people stand on when they make speeches or give a performance. □ Nick finished what he was saying and jumped down from the platform.
2 N‑COUNT A platform is a flat raised structure or area, usually one which something can stand on or land on. □ They found a spot on a rocky platform where they could pitch their tents.
3 N‑COUNT A platform is a structure built for people to work and live on when drilling for oil or gas at sea, or when extracting it.
4 N‑COUNT A platform in a railway station is the area beside the rails where you wait for or get off a train. □ The train was about to leave and I was not even on the platform.
5 N‑COUNT The platform of a political party is what they say they will do if they are elected. □ [+ of ] …a platform of political and economic reforms.
6 N‑COUNT If someone has a platform , they have an opportunity to tell people what they think or want. □ [+ for ] The demonstration provided a platform for a broad cross-section of speakers.
plat|ing /ple I t I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Plating is a thin layer of metal on something, or a covering of metal plates. □ The tanker began spilling oil the moment her outer plating ruptured.
plati|num /plæ t I nəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Platinum is a very valuable, silvery-grey metal. It is often used for making jewellery.
2 COLOUR Platinum hair is very fair, almost white. □ …a platinum blonde with thick eye shadow and scarlet lipstick.
plati|tude /plæ t I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ (platitudes ) N‑COUNT A platitude is a statement which is considered meaningless and boring because it has been made many times before in similar situations. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Why couldn't he say something original instead of spouting the same old platitudes?
pla|ton|ic /plətɒ n I k/ The spelling Platonic is also used for meaning 2 . 1 ADJ Platonic relationships or feelings of affection do not involve sex. □ She values the platonic friendship she has had with Chris for ten years.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Platonic means relating to the ideas of the Greek philosopher Plato. □ …the Platonic tradition of Greek philosophy.
pla|toon /plətuː n/ (platoons ) N‑COUNT A platoon is a small group of soldiers, usually one which is commanded by a lieutenant.
plat|ter /plæ tə r / (platters ) N‑COUNT A platter is a large, flat plate used for serving food. [mainly AM ] □ The food was being served on silver platters. ● N‑COUNT A platter of food is the amount of food on a platter.
plau|dits /plɔː d I tz/ N‑PLURAL If a person or a thing receives plaudits from a group of people, those people express their admiration for or approval of that person or thing. [FORMAL ] □ [+ for ] They won plaudits and prizes for their accomplished films.
plau|sible /plɔː z I b ə l/
1 ADJ An explanation or statement that is plausible seems likely to be true or valid. □ A more plausible explanation would seem to be that people are fed up with the Conservative government. ● plau|sibly /plɔː z I bli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ Having bluffed his way in without paying, he could not plausibly demand his money back. ● plau|sibil|ity /plɔː z I b I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the plausibility of the theory.
2 ADJ If you say that someone is plausible , you mean that they seem to be telling the truth and to be sincere and honest. □ He was so plausible that he conned everybody.
play ◆◆◆ /ple I / (plays , playing , played )
1 VERB When children, animals, or perhaps adults play , they spend time doing enjoyable things, such as using toys and taking part in games. □ [V ] They played in the little garden. □ [V + with ] Polly was playing with her teddy bear. ● N‑UNCOUNT Play is also a noun. □ …a few hours of play until the baby-sitter takes them off to bed.