crate

crate — noun

1. a strong box built to hold and protect goods during storage or delivery, usually

1.nounB1
Definition

a strong box built to hold and protect goods during storage or delivery, usually made from wood, metal, or durable plastic

Example

Eli carefully lifted the wooden crate off the truck and carried it into the garage.

wooden / plastic / metal + crate — material collocations

A large crate of Italian wine arrived at the restaurant before the weekend rush.

crate of [contents] for describing what is inside

Common collocations
  • wooden crate
  • plastic crate
  • metal crate
  • packing crate
  • wine crate
  • shipping crate
  • crate of bottles
  • crate of fruit
Synonyms
  • box

    more general; can be any size and material, including cardboard

  • container

    broader term that includes bins, barrels, and tanks

  • packing case

    British term for a wooden crate used for shipping household goods

Common Mistakes

Please put the documents in a crate.
Please put the documents in a box or folder.
A crate is a large, sturdy container for heavy items, not for papers or small office items.

2. a box or cage with openings for airflow, used to keep a pet safe at home or to c

2.nounB1
Definition

a box or cage with openings for airflow, used to keep a pet safe at home or to carry it during travel

Example

The airline requires all small dogs to travel inside an approved pet crate.

approved pet crate — common in travel contexts

Padma bought a wire crate for her puppy to sleep in at night.

wire crate / plastic crate — types of pet crate

Common collocations
  • dog crate
  • pet crate
  • travel crate
  • wire crate
  • plastic crate
  • crate training
  • sleep in a crate
Synonyms
  • cage

    more general; often made of wire bars and used for various animals

  • carrier

    a portable container specifically designed for transporting pets

  • kennel

    can mean an outdoor dog house or a facility that boards pets

Usage Note

In pet care, a crate is an indoor container used for sleeping, training, or travel, while a kennel is usually an outdoor structure or a boarding facility.

Common Mistakes

The crate is too small, so I leave my dog outside in it.
The crate is too small, so I leave my dog outside in a kennel.
A crate is meant for indoor or travel use; a kennel is better suited for outdoor stays.

3. the quantity of items that fills a single crate, used as a unit for ordering or

3.nounB2
Definition

the quantity of items that fills a single crate, used as a unit for ordering or counting goods

Example

The bar orders a crate of oranges every Monday morning for fresh juice.

a crate of [product] — measurement pattern

The graduates drank nearly a whole crate of beer at the graduation party last weekend.

Common collocations
  • a crate of beer
  • a crate of wine
  • a crate of soda
  • half a crate
  • whole crate
  • order by the crate
Synonyms
  • case

    a packaging unit, often used for bottles and cans; similar quantity to a crate

  • boxful

    the amount that fills any box, not necessarily a crate

Usage Note

This sense is most common in retail, restaurant, and wholesale contexts where goods are ordered or counted by crate rather than by individual item.

Common Mistakes

I bought a crate of milk from the convenience store.
I bought a carton of milk from the convenience store.
A crate is a large container used for wholesale or bulk ordering, not for individual retail purchases.

crate — verb

Word family

  • crated
    adjectiveB2
  • crating
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe objects that hold things, but they differ in typical use and material. A crate is a large, sturdy container made of wood, metal, or hard plastic — it is built for heavy items and rough shipping. A box is the most general term: it can be made of cardboard, wood, or plastic, and can be any size. Container is a broad category that includes crates, boxes, barrels, bins, and tanks — it emphasises function (holding something) rather than shape or material. Case refers to a container designed specifically for its contents, such as a wine case or a phone case, and often implies that the container protects a set of related items. For everyday language: 'Put the books in a box' sounds natural; 'Put the books in a crate' suggests the books are heavy or being shipped. 'I need a container for leftovers' is normal; 'I need a crate for leftovers' sounds odd unless the leftovers are industrial-sized.

crate ↗box ↗container ↗case ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • crate lid
  • crate label
  • crate size

Phrases

  • pack in a crate
  • ship in a crate
  • stack crates
  • fill a crate

Prepositions

  • in a crate
  • into a crate
  • out of a crate
  • crate of

Etymology

DutchEnglish

The word 'crate' came into English from Dutch 'krat' in the 1600s, meaning a basket or a simple wooden container for goods. It is related to the Dutch word 'korf' (basket) and the German 'Korb'. Originally it referred to a woven or slatted container for transporting produce, and over time it came to mean any sturdy box used for shipping.