plural crates
1
a
: an open box typically of wooden slats or latticed plastic and used for transporting and storing goods
a crate of oranges
see also milk crate
b
: a usually wooden protective case or framework used for shipping
a packing crate
She purchased ten shipping crates made with wood edges and plastic-covered cardboard sides, all neatly broken down for easy assembly.—
Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy2
: a usually box-shaped container or cage that has openings for airflow and that is used for confining or carrying animals (such as dogs or cats)
The store carries a variety of pet crates.
Teach children to let resting dogs lie and to stay out of dog crates, beds and other resting places that are designated for the dog.—John Elder
John Elder3
informal + somewhat old-fashioned
: a dilapidated old car or airplane
George Bernard's most immediate concern is not the war, but his failing car battery. He can hardly get his old crate cranked up, and a new battery costs $300 …—Phil McCombs
Phil McCombsFrom Blake: "I am not sure this crate will fly. Dump everything out." … In our compartment Doug yanks up his bombing sight, opens the floor hatch and tosses it.—Williamson Murray
Williamson Murray
crated; crating; crates
: to pack or place in a crate
crating items for shipping
Of course the ideal answer would seem to be to crate the dog. But with so many cars now being overly small, there may be no way to get a crate into a vehicle.—Eleanor Price
Eleanor PriceSynonyms
Examples of crate in a Sentence
Noun
The bear arrived at the zoo in a crate.
Each milk crate holds nine bottles.
They used a crate of oranges to make enough juice for everyone.
One day the old crate just wouldn't start.
Verb
The equipment was crated today and will be shipped tomorrow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
Laura Kruger, a curator at the Hebrew Union College Museum, holds crates and boxes of Hilu’s sketches and gave him several museum shows.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2017
The two bears — Yun Chuan, a 4-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 3-year-old female — were crated and sent on their way to sunny California in a secretive farewell ceremony attended by San Diego Zoo officials and the city’s mayor, Todd Gloria.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for crate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The largest room serves as a storage room and, when boxes and crates are shifted to the walls, a dining hall for feast days.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
Laura Kruger, a curator at the Hebrew Union College Museum, holds crates and boxes of Hilu’s sketches and gave him several museum shows.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
Rajoy also entered into a pact with PSOE head Pedro Sánchez to organize a commission to study amending the Constitution with an eye toward revamping the system of regional autonomies crated after 1978.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2017
The two bears — Yun Chuan, a 4-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 3-year-old female — were crated and sent on their way to sunny California in a secretive farewell ceremony attended by San Diego Zoo officials and the city’s mayor, Todd Gloria.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for crate
Dictionary Entries Near crate
Cite this Entry
“Crate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crate
1 of 2 noun
: a box or frame of wooden slats or boards for packing or protecting something in shipment
crate
2 of 2 verb
crated; crating
: to pack in a crate
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share