tray

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

trayful

2 of 2

noun (2)

tray·​ful ˈtrāˌfu̇l How to pronounce trayful (audio)
plural -s
: as much as a tray will hold

Examples of tray in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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.
Noun
It is remodeled with stylish carpeting, a warm color pallet, and features an attractive tray ceiling with subtle trim work. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026 So set out a tray of night cheese, get cozy with your most comfortable slanket, and start your binge-watch now. — Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026 The top edge houses the power button, and the bottom edge features a USB-C port for charging and file transfer, along with a microSD card tray slot, which is very rare for ereaders and new to the Go 6. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 In the Netherlands, trays usually brimming with fresh tomatoes lay empty on Wednesday in an Albert Heijn supermarket on the outskirts of The Hague. — John Leicester, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tray

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (1)

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
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Cite this Entry

“Tray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tray. Accessed 20 Oct. 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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