tray

noun

ˈtrā How to pronounce tray (audio)
Synonyms of traynext
: an open receptacle with a flat bottom and a low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful
ˈtrā-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce tray (audio)
noun

Examples of tray in a Sentence

She carried the tray of food to our table. a car with several storage trays
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yes, otters — those adorable little scamps with nearly human faces that mostly lie on their backs at the surface, using their bellies as snack trays. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Four covered trays of cooked egg noodles were improperly cooling in the walk-in refrigerator. — Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 The process eliminates the water-slurry stage and associated drying steps, allowing fibers to form directly into rigid packaging, including trays, bowls, plates and beverage lids. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 Ford already sells a tray-bed variant of the truck, but this takes it a step further by adding an extra axle. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tray

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English trīg, trēg; akin to Old Swedish trø wooden grain measure and probably to Old English trēow tree — more at tree entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tray was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing tray

Rhymes for tray

See All Rhymes for tray

Browse Nearby Words

trawlnet
tray
tray agriculture
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tray. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tray

noun
ˈtrā How to pronounce tray (audio)
: an open container with flat bottom and low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful
-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce tray (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

tray

noun
ˈtrā How to pronounce tray (audio)
: an appliance consisting of a flanged body and a handle for use in holding plastic material against the gums or teeth in making negative impressions for dentures

More from Merriam-Webster on tray

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tray

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tray

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