plaque
noun
\ ˈplak
\
\
Definition of plaque
1a
: an ornamental brooch
especially
: the badge of an honorary order
b
: a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration
c
: a commemorative or identifying inscribed tablet
2a
: a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface
b
: a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria
c
: an atherosclerotic lesion
d
: a histopathologic lesion of brain tissue that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and consists of a dense proteinaceous core composed primarily of beta-amyloid that is often surrounded and infiltrated by a cluster of degenerating axons and dendrites
3
: a clear area in a bacterial culture produced by viral destruction of cells
Examples of plaque in a Sentence
A bronze plaque marked the city's oldest building.
They gave him a plaque in honor of his 30 years of service.
Brushing your teeth prevents the buildup of plaque.
The scientists are studying the way the plaques form.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Last month, on the 56th anniversary of Du Bois’s death, a group of activists, scholars, city officials and residents gathered in front of a new plaque that marks the location of Du Bois’ former residence in Berlin. — Washington Post, "The Germany of 1892 was liberating for W.E.B. Du Bois. Many minorities don’t feel that today.," 9 Sep. 2019 The image showed LeClere and two fraternity brothers in front of a roadside plaque commemorating the site where Till’s body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River. — Jerry Mitchell, ProPublica, "Here’s Proof Ole Miss Knew Identities of Two Students Who Posed in Front of Shot-Up Emmett Till Sign, But Did Little," 30 July 2019 One of the students posted a photo to his private Instagram account in March showing the trio in front of a roadside plaque commemorating the site where Till’s body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River. — Jerry Mitchell, USA TODAY, "3 students posed with guns in front of Emmett Till's memorial. They could face a civil rights investigation," 25 July 2019 The short-term loss for the Hall and those who make the trek to upstate New York could be a long-term gain for guys deserving of a plaque but are buried by a backlog that has finally and thankfully been cleared. — Jon Tayler, SI.com, "Baseball Hall of Fame Inductions Are Heading for a Bleak Period," 19 July 2019 Heavyweight boxer George Foreman, racing champ A.J. Foyt, former Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini and professional golfer Jackie Burke Jr. were celebrated and given walk of fame plaques. — Matt Wyatt, Houston Chronicle, "George Foreman, A.J. Foyt, Dan Pastorini, Jackie Burke enter Houston Sports Hall of Fame," 26 June 2019 Pharmaceutical companies are chasing beta-amyloid hard, racing to develop drugs to fight plaque buildup and hopefully, in turn, improve patients’ brain function. — Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, "State of Science: A Roller Coaster Year for Alzheimer's Treatment," 1 Jan. 2019 In most cases, that blood vessel blockage happens because of a disease called atherosclerosis, or a buildup of plaque in your arteries that eventually hardens and constricts blood flow, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explains. — Natasha Lavender, SELF, "Meet SCAD, a Major Cause of Heart Attacks in Women 50 and Under," 22 Aug. 2019 There is even a commemorative plaque in the city that says Oconomowoc held the world premiere. — Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Did Oconomowoc really host the world premiere of 'The Wizard of Oz'? Here's what we found.," 14 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plaque.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for plaque
plaque
noun
English Language Learners Definition of plaque
: a flat, thin piece of metal or wood with writing on it that is used especially as a reminder of something (such as a historic event or an achievement)
: a thin coating that forms on teeth and contains bacteria
medical
: a change in brain tissue that occurs in Alzheimer's disease
See the full definition for plaque in the English Language Learners Dictionary
plaque
noun
\ ˈplak
\
\
Kids Definition of plaque
1
: a flat thin piece (as of metal) with writing on it that serves as a memorial of something
2
: a sticky usually colorless thin film on the teeth that is formed by and contains bacteria
plaque
noun
variants:
also placque \ ˈplak
\
\
Medical Definition of plaque
1a
: a localized abnormal patch on a body part or surface and especially on the skin
psoriatic plaque
b
: a sticky usually colorless film on teeth that is formed by and harbors bacteria
c
: an atherosclerotic lesion
d
: a histopathologic lesion of brain tissue that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and consists of a dense proteinaceous core composed primarily of beta-amyloid that is often surrounded and infiltrated by a cluster of degenerating axons and dendrites
— called also senile plaque
2
: a visibly distinct and especially a clear or opaque area in a bacterial culture produced by damage to or destruction of cells by a virus
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