plaque

noun \ˈplak\

: 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

Full Definition of PLAQUE

a : 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

a : 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

: a clear area in a bacterial culture produced by viral destruction of cells

See plaque defined for English-language learners

See plaque defined for kids

Origin of PLAQUE

French, from Middle French, metal sheet, from plaquer to plate, from Middle Dutch placken to piece, patch; akin to Middle Dutch placke piece, Middle High German placke patch

First Known Use: 1845

Other Dentistry Terms

bridge, crown, tush

Rhymes with PLAQUE

back, black, Braque, clack, claque, crack, flack, flak, hack, jack, knack, lac, lack, lakh, mac, Mac, pack, quack, rack, sac, sack, sacque, shack, slack, smack, snack, stack, tach, tack, thwack, track, Wac, wack, whack, wrack, yak

PLAQUE Defined for Kids

plaque

noun \ˈplak\

Definition of PLAQUE for Kids

: a flat thin piece (as of metal) with writing on it that serves as a memorial of something

: a sticky usually colorless thin film on the teeth that is formed by and contains bacteria

Medical Dictionary

plaque

noun

Medical Definition of PLAQUE

a : 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

: 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