tray

tray — noun

1. a flat board with a slightly raised border that people use when they need to car

1.nounA2
Definition

a flat board with a slightly raised border that people use when they need to carry cups, plates, or other items from one place to another without dropping anything.

Example

Ilan carried a tray of coffee cups carefully down the stairs to the living room.

carry a tray of [items]

The waiter set a tray with two plates and soup on the table.

Common collocations
  • carry a tray
  • serve on a tray
  • bring a tray
  • coffee tray
  • tea tray
  • serving tray
  • silver tray
  • plastic tray
  • wooden tray
Synonyms
  • platter

    a large flat dish used for presenting food at the table, usually without raised edges for carrying

  • salver

    a formal, often metal tray used in ceremonies or by waiters presenting drinks or items to guests

  • plate

    a flat, round dish for individual food portions, lacking the raised rim and transport function of a tray

2. a shallow box with an open top that you keep on a desk and use for storing docum

2.nounB1
Definition

a shallow box with an open top that you keep on a desk and use for storing documents, letters, or files that still need to be read or processed.

Example

Rodrigo sorted the invoices into the tray marked "Pending."

Gita placed the signed contracts in the tray on her secretary's desk.

Common collocations
  • in-tray
  • out-tray
  • letter tray
  • paper tray
  • desk tray
  • sorting tray
Synonyms
  • in-tray

    specifically a tray for documents that have arrived and need attention

  • out-tray

    specifically a tray for documents that have been processed and are ready to leave

  • file holder

    a more general container that may be upright or enclosed, not necessarily with raised edges

Usage Note

Frequently paired with 'in' and 'out' to form in-tray (for incoming documents) and out-tray (for outgoing documents). British English often uses 'in-tray' and 'out-tray'; American English prefers 'inbox' and 'outbox' on a desk.

Common Mistakes

Please put the report in my folder on the desk.
Please put the report in my tray on the desk.
A folder encloses papers on all sides; a tray holds them open and ready for quick access.

Word family

  • trayful
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A tray is a flat, raised-rim object used mainly for carrying multiple items from one place to another. A platter is a large, often oval serving dish for presenting food at the table — you serve from it but do not carry drinks on it. A dish is a broad term for any container in which food is served or cooked, including bowls, plates, and casseroles. A plate is a flat, round dish for one person's food portion, typically without raised edges. For example: 'He brought drinks on a tray, then served the main course from a large platter, placing portions onto each guest's plate.'

tray ↗platterdish ↗plate ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • on a silver tray
  • in-tray / out-tray
  • tray of drinks
  • tray of food

Prepositions

  • on a tray

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Tray comes from Old English 'trēg,' meaning a flat wooden board with a low rim. The word is related to Old Norse 'treyja' (a flat vessel) and shares a root with 'trough.' By the 14th century, 'tray' was used for any flat, rimmed surface designed to carry food or drink.