tray
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a flat, rigid object with raised edges used for carrying food, drinks, or other small items.
n.a flat, typically rectangular or oval vessel with a low rim, designed for carrying or displaying items.
Simple“The waiter carried a large tray of drinks to the table by the window.”
In context“She carefully balanced the silver tea tray as she navigated the narrow corridor leading to the drawing room.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a part of a machine, like a printer or a computer, where you put things like paper or a disk.
n.a sliding or removable component of a device designed to hold materials for processing.
Simple“Please put more paper in the printer tray so I can finish my report.”
In context“The technician noted that the optical drive tray was jammed, preventing the diagnostic disc from being loaded into the system.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the small area on a computer screen, usually at the bottom, where icons for open programs and alerts appear.
n.a specific area within a graphical user interface, typically on the taskbar, used for displaying status icons and background applications.
Simple“You can see the battery level by looking at the icon in the system tray.”
In context“Several background processes were visible in the tray, indicating that the antivirus software was currently performing a scheduled scan.”
Synonymssystem traynotification area - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the flat back part of a truck or ute used for carrying heavy loads.
n.the open, flat platform of a vehicle used for hauling cargo.
Simple“We loaded the timber onto the tray of the truck and tied it down.”
In context“The farmer secured the hay bales to the tray of his ute before driving across the uneven paddock.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is particularly common in Australian and New Zealand English when referring to utility vehicles (utes).
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to put items onto a tray, usually to prepare them for serving or baking.
v.to arrange or deposit items onto a tray for transport, processing, or display.
Simple“The baker began to tray the cookies before putting them in the oven.”
In context“After the components were cleaned, the assembly line worker would tray them for the next stage of the manufacturing process.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and typically used in commercial or industrial contexts.