plateau

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See also: Plateau

English

Diagram showing plateaus.

Etymology

Borrowed from French plateau, diminutive of plat (“a plate”); see plate. Doublet of platter.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈplætəʊ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /plæˈtoʊ/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Homophones: plateaux
  • Rhymes: -əʊ

Noun

plateau (plural plateaus or plateaux)

  1. A largely level expanse of land at a high elevation; tableland.
  2. A comparatively stable level after a period of increase. (of a varying quantity)
    • 2008 May 28, Tara Parker-Pope, “Hint of Hope as Child Obesity Rate Hits Plateau”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:
      Childhood obesity, rising for more than two decades, appears to have hit a plateau, a potentially significant milestone in the battle against excessive weight gain among children.
  3. (dated) An ornamental dish for the table; a tray or salver.
  4. (sports, broadcasting) A notable level of attainment or achievement.
  5. (drug slang) Any of several distinct, dose-dependent stages of a dextromethorphan trip.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

plateau (third-person singular simple present plateaus, present participle plateauing, simple past and past participle plateaued)

  1. (intransitive) (of a varying quantity) To reach a stable level after a period of increase; to level off.

Translations

Further reading

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from French plateau, diminutive of plat (“a plate”); see English plate.

Noun

plateau n (singular definite plateauet, plural indefinite plateauer)

  1. plateau (level expanse of land)
    Synonym: højslette

References

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French plateau, diminutive of plat (“a plate”); see English plate.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /plaːˈtoː/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: pla‧teau
  • Rhymes: -oː

Noun

plateau n (plural plateaus, diminutive plateautje n)

  1. plateau (level expanse of land)
    Synonym: hoogvlakte
  2. plateau (comparatively stable level)
  3. plateau (tray) (Southern)

Derived terms

French

French Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia fr

Etymology

From plat +‎ -eau.

Pronunciation

Noun

plateau m (plural plateaux)

  1. flat area
  2. tray
  3. (geography) plateau
  4. stage (in theatre); set (of television broadcast)
  5. (cycling) chainring

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

Anagrams

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