platter

UK: /ˈplætə^r/ US: /ˈplætɚ/ ,(plat′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

plat•ter /ˈplætɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a large, shallow dish for serving food.
2. a course of a meal, usually consisting of a variety of foods served on the same plate:
   ordered the seafood platter.
3. Show Business a phonograph record.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

plat•ter  (plat′ər), n. 

1. a large, shallow dish, usually elliptical in shape, for holding and serving food, esp. meat or fish.
2. a course of a meal, usually consisting of a variety of foods served on the same plate.
3. Show Business [Slang.] a phonograph record.
4. Cinema, Show Business [Motion Picture Slang.] a part of a motion-picture projector, consisting of a large, horizontally rotating disk that houses a feature film.

• Anglo-French, derivative of plat dish. See plate¹, -er²
• Middle English plater 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

platter / ˈplætə/ noun

1. a large shallow usually oval dish or plate, used for serving food
2. a course of a meal, usually consisting of several different foods served on the same plate: a seafood platter

Etymology: 14th Century: from Anglo-Norman plater, from plat dish, from Old French plat flat; see plate