: a usually wooden protective case or framework used for shipping
a packing crate
She purchased ten shipping crates made with wood edges and plastic-covered cardboard sides, all neatly broken down for easy assembly. Tom Clancy
2
: a usually box-shaped container or cage that has openings for airflow and that is used for confining or carrying animals (such as dogs or cats)
The store carries a variety of pet crates.
Teach children to let resting dogs lie and to stay out of dog crates, beds and other resting places that are designated for the dog. John Elder
3
informal + somewhat old-fashioned: a dilapidated old car or airplane
George Bernard's most immediate concern is not the war, but his failing car battery. He can hardly get his old crate cranked up, and a new battery costs $300 … Phil McCombs
From Blake: "I am not sure this crate will fly. Dump everything out." … In our compartment Doug yanks up his bombing sight, opens the floor hatch and tosses it. Williamson Murray
Of course the ideal answer would seem to be to crate the dog. But with so many cars now being overly small, there may be no way to get a crate into a vehicle. Eleanor Price
Noun The bear arrived at the zoo in a crate. Each milk crate holds nine bottles. They used a crate of oranges to make enough juice for everyone. One day the old crate just wouldn't start. Verb The equipment was crated today and will be shipped tomorrow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There are outdoor-friendly elevated dog beds and simple—yet soft—crate mats, too. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 6 Sep. 2022 The mother, Viktoria Kovalevska, peered outside to the tent next door and saw a wooden crate that a soldier had dropped to the ground.Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 On July 25, the Dedham Police Department posted on Facebook that the authorities found the dog locked inside a crate along with a blanket and sweater, while temperatures rose toward 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2022 Beachgoers will find chardonnay sunblock and totes for sale, and a crate of records is up for grabs in the back. Diti Kohli, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022 Arrange for Jeff to be smuggled into the Lancaster loading dock inside a delivery crate. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2022 Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 4 July 2022 There is even a Twitter post from a Russian user shows a Switchblade on a crate, with a claim that a shipment of them have been captured. David Hambling, Forbes, 8 June 2022 Consider a crate or small room in the most sound-proof area of your home. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022
Verb
Alongside McDonalds, a whole slew of companies in the food and beverage industry—Costco, K-Mart, Heinz, Sodexo, Kraft, Carl’s Jr, Denny’s and more (pdf)—had all set the goal of transitioning to crate-free pork production in 2012. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2022 The military had been working for weeks to shrink-wrap attack helicopters, crate hundreds of armored Humvees, pack up the computers, and operate burn pits where sensitive paperwork and classified documents could be destroyed.BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2021 The filling is completely made of egg crate orthopedic foam that provides ample air circulation and relieves pressure points on their body. Lily Gray, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2021 Monkeys and birds prove to be the most troubling to crate, while herding large animals into hurricane-code shelters runs much smoother, Hinson said. Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, 8 Mar. 2021 At the same time, wind farms across the state froze up, and households heated with natural gas competed with power plants that burn natural gas to crate electricity — a frenzy that dramatically drove up natural gas prices. Diego Mendoza-moyers, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Feb. 2021 Wingshooters at the end of the day often gather around the truck to case the guns and crate the dogs.Field & Stream, 30 July 2020 For more information, the Humane Society has a very helpful guide to crate training. Medea Giordano, Wired, 4 June 2020 However, some homeowners prefer a wood dog crate for in the house, using it both as a decoration and a place to crate their dog. The Editors, Field & Stream, 8 Apr. 2020 See More