# tray

/ˈtɹeɪ/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a flat carrier

noun · CEFR A2

a flat, rigid object with raised edges used for carrying food, drinks, or other small items.

For teachers: a flat, typically rectangular or oval vessel with a low rim, designed for carrying or displaying items.

- The waiter carried a large tray of drinks to the table by the window.
- She carefully balanced the silver tea tray as she navigated the narrow corridor leading to the drawing room.

### 2. device component

noun · CEFR B1 · Technical

a part of a machine, like a printer or a computer, where you put things like paper or a disk.

For teachers: a sliding or removable component of a device designed to hold materials for processing.

- Please put more paper in the printer tray so I can finish my report.
- The technician noted that the optical drive tray was jammed, preventing the diagnostic disc from being loaded into the system.

### 3. software notification area

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Technical

the small area on a computer screen, usually at the bottom, where icons for open programs and alerts appear.

For teachers: a specific area within a graphical user interface, typically on the taskbar, used for displaying status icons and background applications.

- You can see the battery level by looking at the icon in the system tray.
- Several background processes were visible in the tray, indicating that the antivirus software was currently performing a scheduled scan.

### 4. truck bed

noun · CEFR B2 · Dialect

the flat back part of a truck or ute used for carrying heavy loads.

For teachers: the open, flat platform of a vehicle used for hauling cargo.

- We loaded the timber onto the tray of the truck and tied it down.
- The farmer secured the hay bales to the tray of his ute before driving across the uneven paddock.

Teaching tip: This sense is particularly common in Australian and New Zealand English when referring to utility vehicles (utes).

### 5. to place on a tray

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to put items onto a tray, usually to prepare them for serving or baking.

For teachers: to arrange or deposit items onto a tray for transport, processing, or display.

- The baker began to tray the cookies before putting them in the oven.
- After the components were cleaned, the assembly line worker would tray them for the next stage of the manufacturing process.

Usage: This verb is transitive and typically used in commercial or industrial contexts.

## Examples

- The waiter carries the drinks on a silver tray.
- She placed the breakfast tray on the bedside table before waking her husband.
- In modern office environments, the traditional plastic letter tray has largely been replaced by digital folders, though physical versions remain essential for processing incoming hardware components.

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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.