crate

Everyday

1. A crate is a big strong box, often made of wood or plastic slats, used to carry or store things. tree →
2. A dog crate is a box-like cage where a dog sleeps or travels. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a container with a number of things in each; crates × things in each crate gives the total; crates needed = total ÷ each. In everyday life: crates of fruit at the market, milk crates, a crate for a puppy. Phrases: «a crate of apples», «packing crate», «milk crate».

Examples

• Each crate holds 24 apples. tree →
• They loaded 15 crates onto the truck. tree →
• How many crates are needed for 96 bottles? tree →
• A crate of oranges weighs 20 kg. tree →
• The puppy sleeps in a crate at night. tree →
• The farmer stacked the crates in the barn. tree →
• We used an old crate as a step. tree →
• The ship carried hundreds of crates. tree →

Note

Countable: «a crate». Maths: «each crate holds n» is a rate: total = crates × n, crates = total ÷ n. Trap: if there is a remainder, you need one more crate for the leftovers.