ENGLISH
REFERENCE

plaque

n.
US //ˈpɫæk// UK //plˈæk// plaque
  1. 1 commemorative sign (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a flat piece of metal, stone, or wood with writing on it, usually fixed to a wall to remember a person or event.

    an ornamental or commemorative tablet, typically of metal or porcelain, fixed to a wall or surface to mark a historical site or honour an individual.

    Example

    The city put up a small brass plaque on the house where the famous poet once lived.

    Example

    A commemorative bronze plaque was unveiled at the site of the old library to honour the philanthropists who funded its original construction.
  2. 2 on teeth (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    a sticky substance that forms on your teeth if you do not brush them well.

    a biofilm of bacteria and food particles that accumulates on tooth surfaces, potentially leading to decay or gingivitis.

    Example

    Regular brushing and flossing help to remove plaque and keep your gums healthy.

    Example

    The dental hygienist explained that if plaque is not removed daily, it can mineralise into tartar, which requires professional cleaning to remove.

    Usage

    uncountable in this dental context
    • biofilm
    • tartar
  3. 3 in arteries or brain (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a build-up of fatty or harmful material inside the body, such as in the heart's tubes or the brain.

    an abnormal accumulation of fatty deposits or proteins on an inner body surface, such as an arterial wall or within brain tissue.

    Example

    Eating too much fatty food can lead to the build-up of plaque in your arteries.

    Example

    The progression of Alzheimer's disease is often associated with the accumulation of amyloid plaques that disrupt communication between neurons in the brain.

    Usage

    can be countable or uncountable depending on the specific medical condition
  4. 4 casino chip (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    a large, flat rectangular card used instead of money for betting in a casino.

    a high-value rectangular gaming token used in casinos, distinct from the standard circular chips used for smaller bets.

    Example

    The high roller pushed a stack of gold plaques toward the centre of the table.

    Example

    In high-stakes baccarat, players often use large rectangular plaques rather than standard circular chips to represent significant sums of money.
Origin

Unadapted borrowing from French plaque (“plate, sheet (of metal); slab (of marble); bacteria on teeth”), from French plaquer, Middle French plaquer (“to plate”), from Middle Dutch placken (“to patch, beat metal into a thin plate”), from placke (“disk, patch, stain”), from Old Dutch plagga (“patch”), from Proto-Germanic plaggą (“patch”). The word is cognate with Middle Low German placke, plagge (“small stain, scraps, rags, thin grass”), German Placken (“spot, patch”), Saterland Frisian plak, plakke (“a blow, slap”), Swedish plagg (“clothing, garment”). Compare plack.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026