tray S3 /treɪ/ noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: trig, treg]

1. a flat piece of plastic, metal, or wood, with raised edges, used for carrying things such as plates, food etc:
The waiter brought drinks on a tray.

2. a flat open container with three sides used for holding papers, documents etc on a desk
in tray (=for holding documents you still have to deal with)
out tray (=for holding documents you have dealt with)

3. especially British English a flat open container with four sides used for holding certain things:
a cat litter tray
seed tray (=a tray in which you plant seeds)
⇒ baking tray, system tray

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tray
noun
ADJ. laden, loaded a heavily laden tray
breakfast, coffee, drinks, hospitality, supper, tea Every hotel room has a colour TV, telephone and hospitality tray.
VERB + TRAY bear, carry | pick up | balance He balanced the tray on his knees.
place, put down
PREP. on a/the ~ A waitress came in, carrying tea on a tray.
~ of waiters bearing trays of champagne

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲