English Reference

Word

coates

Phoneticscoates

/ˈkoʊˈeɪts/

Definition

v. the third-person form of 'coat'. You use it when someone or something covers a surface with a thin layer of a substance.

v. the third-person singular present indicative of 'coat'. Refers to the action of applying a thin layer or covering of a substance to a surface.

Examples

“The chef coats the chicken in flour before frying it.”

“The technician coats the glass with a special chemical to prevent it from fogging up in the cold.”

“In the final stage of production, a specialized machine coats the tablets with a sugar-based film to mask their bitter taste and facilitate easier swallowing.”

Examples

simple

“The chef coats the chicken in flour before frying it.”

contextual

“The technician coats the glass with a special chemical to prevent it from fogging up in the cold.”

complex

“In the final stage of production, a specialized machine coats the tablets with a sugar-based film to mask their bitter taste and facilitate easier swallowing.”

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the surface being covered.

Pitfall

The snow coats on the trees

The snow coats the trees

Coat is a transitive verb; it should not be followed by a preposition like 'on' when describing the surface being covered.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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