# Gates

/ˈɡeɪts/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪts/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gates
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. airport boarding areas

noun · CEFR A2

the specific areas in an airport where you wait to get on your plane.

For teachers: plural designation for the specific areas in an airport terminal where passengers assemble to board an aircraft.

- We need to check the screen to see which of the gates our flight leaves from.
- Due to the security breach, all departure gates were temporarily closed while officials conducted a thorough sweep of the terminal.

## Examples

- Please remember to close the garden gates behind you.
- The security guard stood by the main gates to check the identification of every visitor entering the factory grounds.
- The heavy iron gates creaked on their rusted hinges as the wind pushed them open, revealing a path overgrown with weeds and wildflowers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
