Standard Lemma guide

platen

noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • rhymes with -ætən
  • /ˈplætən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: P L AE1 T AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The part of a printing press which presses the paper against the type and by which the impression is made.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The part of a typewriter or printer on which the paper rests to receive an impression.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The movable table of a planer or other machine tool, on which the work is fastened, and presented to the action of the tool.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The flat glass surface of a scanner or photocopier on which operators place items to be scanned.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the roller on a typewriter against which the keys strike

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: roller

6

noun

Meaning 6

the flat plate of a printing press that presses the paper against the type

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plate

7

noun

Meaning 7

work table of a machine tool

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: table

History

Etymology

From French platine, from plat (“flat”). See plate, and compare platin.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: тигел (tigel) — printing: part of a printing press
  • Czech: deska — printing: part of a printing press
  • Finnish: tela — printing: part of a printing press
  • Bulgarian: валяк (valjak) — part of a typewriter or printer on which the paper rests
  • Finnish: tela — part of a typewriter or printer on which the paper rests
  • Czech: deska — movable table of a planer or other machine tool
  • Finnish: työstötaso — movable table of a planer or other machine tool
  • Finnish: valotuslasi — flat glass surface of a scanner or photocopier
  • Finnish: valotustaso — flat glass surface of a scanner or photocopier