gate

views updated May 23 2018

gate / gāt/ • n. 1. a hinged barrier used to close an opening in a wall, fence, or hedge. ∎  a gateway: she went out through the gate. ∎ fig. a means of entrance or exit: they were opening the gates of their country wide to the enemy. ∎  an exit from an airport building to an aircraft. ∎  [in names] a mountain pass or other natural passage: the Golden Gate.2. the number of people who pay to enter a sports facility, exhibition hall, etc., for any one event: [as adj.] gate receipts. ∎  the money taken for admission.3. a device resembling a gate in structure or function, in particular: ∎  a hinged or sliding barrier for controlling the flow of water: a sluice gate. ∎  Skiing an opening through which a skier must pass in a slalom course, typically marked by upright poles. ∎  a device for holding each frame of a movie film in position behind the lens of a camera or projector.4. an electric circuit with an output that depends on the combination of several inputs: a logic gate. ∎  the part of a field-effect transistor to which a signal is applied to control the resistance of the conductive channel of the device.PHRASES: get (or be given) the gate inf. be dismissed from a job.

gate

views updated May 11 2018

gate in Greek mythology, the gate of horn was the gate through which true dreams pass (as opposed to the ivory gate for false dreams).

See also like a bull at a gate at bull1, kissing gate, Pearly Gates at pearly.

gate

views updated Jun 11 2018

gate1 opening in a wall capable of being closed by a barrier; barrier itself. OE. ġæt, ġeat, pl. gatu, corr. to OFris. gat hole, opening, OS. gat eye of a needle (LG., Du. gap, hole, breach), ON. gat opening, passage :- Gmc. *ʒatam. Forms with initial y, repr. OE. forms ġeat, etc., remain in northerly dial.; the standard form has been gate since XVI.

gate

views updated May 18 2018

gate2
A. (north. dial.) way XIII; street (surviving in place-names) XV;

B. †going, journey XIII; manner of going (see GAIT). — ON. gata = OHG. gazza (G. gasse lane), Goth. gatwō :- Gmc. *ʒatwōn, of unkn. orig.

gate

views updated May 29 2018

gate See logic gate.

Gate

views updated May 18 2018

Gate

the number of people attending a sporting event, usually football matches, 1888.