Bowl vs. Plate — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 4, 2024
A bowl is typically used for holding liquid or semi-liquid foods due to its concave shape, while a plate is flat and better suited for solid foods.
Difference Between Bowl and Plate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Bowls are designed with a concave shape, making them ideal for serving liquid-based dishes like soups, stews, and cereals. On the other hand, plates are flat, usually with a slightly raised edge, perfect for serving solid foods such as sandwiches, meats, and vegetables.
While bowls are designed to hold liquids and prevent spillage, their shape limits the spread of food, making them unsuitable for meals that require cutting or spreading. Plates, by contrast, offer a wide surface area that accommodates various food items simultaneously and allows for easier cutting and arranging of food.
Bowls often come in various depths and sizes, from shallow soup bowls to deep cereal bowls, to accommodate different types of meals and portion sizes. Plates, however, typically vary more in diameter than in depth, designed to present and serve a wide range of dishes from appetizers to main courses.
In terms of usage, bowls are versatile for individual servings, especially for meals consumed with spoons or where mixing ingredients is desired. Plates serve a broader function in dining, useful for both individual servings and shared dishes, providing a flat surface for easy access and food distribution.
Despite their differences, both bowls and plates are essential dining utensils, each serving unique purposes based on the nature of the meal. While bowls are preferred for their ability to hold liquids and hearty portions, plates offer the flexibility to accommodate an array of dishes, from salads to steaks, making them indispensable for a complete dining experience.
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Comparison Chart
Shape
Concave, designed to hold liquids.
Flat, with a slightly raised edge.
Ideal For
Liquid or semi-liquid foods.
Solid foods.
Size Variation
Varied depths for different meals.
Varied diameters for different dishes.
Usage
Individual servings, meals requiring spoons.
Individual or shared servings, versatile.
Meal Types
Soups, stews, cereals.
Sandwiches, meats, vegetables.
Compare with Definitions
Bowl
Characterized by its concave shape to prevent spillage.
The deep bowl was perfect for her morning cereal.
Plate
A flat dish, often circular, from which meals are eaten.
She arranged the cookies neatly on a large plate.
Bowl
Can be made from various materials, including ceramic, glass, or plastic.
For camping, they packed lightweight plastic bowls.
Plate
Commonly made from porcelain, ceramic, or metal.
Their wedding china included delicate porcelain plates.
Bowl
In many cultures, bowls are used for traditional dishes and ceremonies.
During the festival, they used ornate bowls to serve the traditional stew.
Plate
Flat with a slightly raised edge to contain food.
The steak was served on a square plate with a subtle edge.
Bowl
A deep, rounded dish typically used for holding liquids or semi-liquid foods.
She served the chicken soup in a large ceramic bowl.
Plate
Suitable for a wide variety of meals, from breakfast to dinner.
For the party, they used disposable plates for easy cleanup.
Bowl
Primarily used for dishes that are eaten with a spoon.
He preferred a bowl for his ice cream to prevent melting ice cream from dripping.
Plate
Plates often hold aesthetic value in table setting and presentation.
The holiday dinner was served on festive plates that added to the occasion's decor.
Bowl
A bowl is a round dish or container typically used to prepare and serve food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve.
Plate
A smooth, flat, relatively thin, rigid body of uniform thickness.
Bowl
A round, deep dish or basin used for food or liquid
A mixing bowl
A sugar bowl
Plate
A sheet of hammered, rolled, or cast metal.
Bowl
A natural basin.
Plate
A very thin applied or deposited coat of metal.
Bowl
A stadium for sporting or musical events
The Hollywood Bowl
Plate
A flat piece of metal forming part of a machine
A boiler plate.
Bowl
A wooden or hard rubber ball, slightly asymmetrical so that it runs on a curved course, used in the game of bowls.
Plate
A flat piece of metal on which something is engraved.
Bowl
A spell or turn of bowling in cricket.
Plate
A license plate
A car with Utah plates.
Bowl
Roll (a ball or other round object) along the ground
She snatched her hat off and bowled it ahead of her
Plate
A thin piece of metal used for armor.
Bowl
(of a bowler) propel (the ball) with a straight arm towards the batsman, typically in such a way that the ball bounces once
Sobers bowled to Willis
Lillee bowled another bouncer
Plate
Armor made of such pieces.
Bowl
Move rapidly and smoothly in a specified direction
They bowled along the country roads
Plate
A sheet of metal, plastic, rubber, paperboard, or other material prepared for use as a printing surface, such as an electrotype or a stereotype.
Bowl
A hemispherical vessel, wider than it is deep, used for holding food or fluids.
Plate
A print of a woodcut, lithograph, or other engraved material, especially when reproduced in a book.
Bowl
The contents of such a vessel.
Plate
A full-page book illustration, often in color and printed on paper different from that used for text pages.
Bowl
A drinking goblet.
Plate
(Photography) A light-sensitive sheet of glass or metal on which a photographic image can be recorded.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped part, as of a spoon or pipe.
Plate
(Dentistry) A thin metallic or plastic support fitted to the gums to anchor artificial teeth.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped topographic depression.
Plate
(Architecture) In wood-frame construction, a horizontal member that bears a load, as of a roof or a wall.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped stadium or outdoor theater.
Plate
(Baseball) Home plate.
Bowl
(Football) Any of various postseason games played between specially selected teams, especially at the college level.
Plate
A shallow dish in which food is served or from which it is eaten.
Bowl
A ball, traditionally made of wood, that is weighted or slightly flattened so as to roll with a bias, used in lawn bowling.
Plate
The contents of such a dish
Ate a plate of spaghetti.
Bowl
A roll or throw of a ball in lawn bowling and other bowling games.
Plate
A whole course served on such a dish.
Bowl
Bowls(used with a sing. verb) See lawn bowling.
Plate
Service and food for one person at a meal
Dinner at a set price per plate.
Bowl
A revolving cylinder or drum in a machine.
Plate
Household articles, such as hollowware, covered with a precious metal, such as silver or gold.
Bowl
To participate in a game of bowling
I bowl every Thursday night in a league.
Plate
A dish passed among the members of a group or congregation for the collection of offerings.
Bowl
To throw or roll a ball in a game of bowling
It's your turn to bowl.
Plate
A dish, cup, or other article of silver or gold offered as a prize.
Bowl
To hurl a cricket ball from one end of the pitch toward the batsman at the other, keeping the arm straight throughout the delivery.
Plate
A contest, especially a horserace, offering such a prize.
Bowl
To move quickly and smoothly, especially by rolling
The sportscar bowled along through the countryside.
Plate
A thin cut of beef from underneath the ribs, including the diaphragm muscle.
Bowl
To throw or roll (a ball).
Plate
A thin flat layer or scale, as that of a fish.
Bowl
To make (a specified score) in bowling
Placed first by bowling 237.
Bowled a strike in the first frame.
Plate
A platelike part, organ, or structure, such as that covering some reptiles.
Bowl
To perform (a specified amount, as a string or game) in bowling
She bowled eight frames before deciding to use a different ball.
Plate
An electrode, as in a storage battery or capacitor.
Bowl
To move quickly and smoothly by or as if by rolling
Bowled a tire from the garage.
Plate
The anode in an electron tube.
Bowl
To meet or strike with or as if with the force of a rapidly rolling object
The swimmer was bowled over by the wave.
Plate
(Geology) See tectonic plate.
Bowl
A roughly hemispherical container used to hold, mix or present food, such as salad, fruit or soup, or other items.
Plate
(Informal) A schedule of matters to be dealt with
Had a lot on my plate at work after vacation.
Bowl
As much as is held by a bowl.
You can’t have any more soup – you’ve had three bowls already.
Plate
To coat or cover with a thin layer of metal.
Bowl
(cooking) A dish comprising a mix of different foods, not all of which need be cooked, served in a bowl.
This restaurant offers a number of different bowls.
Poke bowl
Plate
To cover with armor plate
Plate a warship.
Bowl
A haircut in which straight hair is cut at an even height around the edges, forming a bowl shape.
Plate
(Printing) To make a stereotype or electrotype from.
Bowl
The round hollow part of anything.
Direct the cleaning fluid around the toilet bowl and under the rim.
Plate
To give a glossy finish to (paper) by pressing between metal sheets or rollers.
Bowl
The part of a spoon that holds content, as opposed to the handle.
Plate
To arrange (food) on a plate, as for serving
"a choice of starters, entrées, and desserts plated just as they will appear when ordered" (John Edward Young).
Bowl
A part of a pipe or bong packed with marijuana for smoking
Let's smoke a bowl!
Plate
(Baseball) To cause (a run) to be scored or (a runner) to cross home plate, as by a hit.
Bowl
(typography) A rounded portion of a glyph that encloses empty space, as in the letters d and o.
Plate
A slightly curved but almost flat dish from which food is served or eaten.
I filled my plate from the bountiful table.
Bowl
(landforms) A round crater (or similar) in the ground.
Plate
(uncountable) Such dishes collectively.
Bowl
An elliptical-shaped stadium or amphitheater resembling a bowl.
Plate
The contents of such a dish.
I ate a plate of beans.
Bowl
(American football) A postseason football competition, a bowl game (i.e. Rose Bowl, Super Bowl)
Plate
A course at a meal.
The meat plate was particularly tasty.
Bowl
The ball rolled by players in the game of lawn bowls.
Plate
(figuratively) An agenda of tasks, problems, or responsibilities
With revenues down and transfer payments up, the legislature has a full plate.
Bowl
The action of bowling a ball.
Plate
A flat object of uniform thickness.
The most important and most expensive part of any solar cell is a silicon plate.
Bowl
The game of bowls.
Plate
A vehicle license plate.
He stole a car and changed the plates as soon as he could.
Bowl
(transitive) To roll or throw (a ball) in the correct manner in cricket and similar games and sports.
Plate
A taxi permit, especially of a metal disc.
Bowl
(intransitive) To throw the ball (in cricket and similar games and sports).
Plate
(historical) Plate armor.
He was confronted by two knights in full plate.
Bowl
(intransitive) To play bowling or a similar game.
Plate
A layer of a material on the surface of something, usually qualified by the type of the material; plating
The bullets just bounced off the steel plate on its hull.
Bowl
To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels.
We were bowled rapidly along the road.
Plate
A material covered with such a layer.
If you're not careful, someone will sell you silverware that's really only silver plate.
Bowl
To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Plate
(dated) An ornamental or food service item coated with silver or gold or otherwise decorated.
The tea was served in the plate.
Bowl
A concave vessel of various forms (often approximately hemispherical), to hold liquids, etc.
Brought them food in bowls of basswood.
Plate
(weightlifting) A weighted disk, usually of metal, with a hole in the center for use with a barbell, dumbbell, or exercise machine.
Bowl
Specifically, a drinking vessel for wine or other spirituous liquors; hence, convivial drinking.
Plate
(printing) An engraved surface used to transfer an image to paper.
We finished making the plates this morning.
Bowl
The contents of a full bowl; what a bowl will hold.
Plate
An image or copy.
Bowl
The hollow part of a thing; as, the bowl of a spoon.
Plate
An illustration in a book, either black and white, or colour, usually on a page of paper of different quality from the text pages.
Bowl
A ball of wood or other material used for rolling on a level surface in play; a ball of hard wood having one side heavier than the other, so as to give it a bias when rolled.
Plate
(dentistry) A shaped and fitted surface, usually ceramic or metal that fits into the mouth and in which teeth are implanted; a dental plate.
Bowl
An ancient game, popular in Great Britain, played with biased balls on a level plat of greensward.
Like an uninstructed bowler, . . . who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it.
Plate
(construction) A horizontal framing member at the top or bottom of a group of vertical studs.
Bowl
The game of tenpins or bowling.
Plate
(Cockney rhyming slang) A foot, from "plates of meat".
Sit down and give your plates a rest.
Bowl
To roll, as a bowl or cricket ball.
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven.
Plate
(baseball) Home plate.
There was a close play at the plate.
Bowl
To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels; as, we were bowled rapidly along the road.
Plate
(geology) A tectonic plate.
Bowl
To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth,And bowled to death with turnips
Plate
(herpetology) Any of various larger scales found in some reptiles.
Bowl
To play with bowls.
Plate
A flat electrode such as can be found in an accumulator battery, or in an electrolysis tank.
Bowl
To roll a ball on a plane, as at cricket, bowls, etc.
Plate
The anode of a vacuum tube.
Regulating the oscillator plate voltage greatly improves the keying.
Bowl
To move rapidly, smoothly, and like a ball; as, the carriage bowled along.
Plate
A prize given to the winner in a contest.
Bowl
A round vessel that is open at the top; used for holding fruit or liquids or for serving food
Plate
(chemistry) Any flat piece of material such as coated glass or plastic.
Bowl
A concave shape with an open top
Plate
A metallic card, used to imprint tickets with an airline's logo, name, and numeric code.
Bowl
A dish that is round and open at the top for serving foods
Plate
The ability of a travel agent to issue tickets on behalf of a particular airline.
Bowl
The quantity contained in a bowl
Plate
(Australia) A VIN plate, particularly with regard to the car's year of manufacture.
Bowl
A large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
Plate
One of the thin parts of the brisket of an animal.
Bowl
A wooden ball (with flattened sides) used in the game of bowls
Plate
A very light steel horseshoe for racehorses.
Bowl
A small round container that is open at the top for holding tobacco
Plate
(furriers' slang) Skins for fur linings of garments, sewn together and roughly shaped, but not finally cut or fitted.
Bowl
Roll (a ball)
Plate
(hat-making) The fine nap (as of beaver, musquash, etc.) on a hat whose body is made from inferior material.
Bowl
Engage in the sport of bowling;
My parents like to bowl on Friday nights
Plate
(music) A record, usually vinyl.
Plate
(military) trauma plate.
The SAPI plate in his vest protected him from the bullet's impact.
Plate
Precious metal, especially silver.
Plate
(obsolete) Silver or gold, in the form of a coin, or less often silver or gold utensils or dishes.
Plate
(heraldic charge) A roundel of silver or argent.
Plate
To cover the surface material of an object with a thin coat of another material, usually a metal.
This ring is plated with a thin layer of gold.
Plate
To place the various elements of a meal on the diner's plate prior to serving.
After preparation, the chef will plate the dish.
Plate
(baseball) To score a run.
The single plated the runner from second base.
Plate
(transitive) To arm or defend with metal plates.
Plate
(transitive) To beat into thin plates.
Plate
To specify which airline a ticket will be issued on behalf of.
Tickets are normally plated on an itinerary's first international airline.
Plate
(philately) to categorise stamps based on their position on the original sheet, in order to reconstruct an entire sheet.
Plate
(philately) (particularly with early British stamps) to identify the printing plate used.
Plate
A flat, or nearly flat, piece of metal, the thickness of which is small in comparison with the other dimensions; a thick sheet of metal; as, a steel plate.
Plate
Metallic armor composed of broad pieces.
Mangled . . . through plate and mail.
Plate
Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups, etc., wrought in gold or silver.
Plate
Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is silver or gold throughout.
Plate
A small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is eaten at table.
Plate
A piece of money, usually silver money.
Plate
A piece of metal on which anything is engraved for the purpose of being printed; hence, an impression from the engraved metal; as, a book illustrated with plates; a fashion plate.
Plate
A page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for printing from; as, publisher's plates.
Plate
That part of an artificial set of teeth which fits to the mouth, and holds the teeth in place. It may be of gold, platinum, silver, rubber, celluloid, etc.
Plate
A horizontal timber laid upon a wall, or upon corbels projecting from a wall, and supporting the ends of other timbers; also used specifically of the roof plate which supports the ends of the roof trusses or, in simple work, the feet of the rafters.
Plate
A roundel of silver or tinctured argent.
Plate
A sheet of glass, porcelain, metal, etc., with a coating that is sensitive to light.
Plate
A prize giving to the winner in a contest.
Plate
A small five-sided area (enveloping a diamond-shaped area one foot square) beside which the batter stands and which must be touched by some part of a player on completing a run; - called also home base, or home plate.
Plate
One of the thin parts of the bricket of an animal.
Plate
A very light steel racing horsehoe.
Plate
Loosely, a sporting contest for a prize; specif., in horse racing, a race for a prize, the contestants not making a stake.
Plate
Skins for fur linings of garments, sewed together and roughly shaped, but not finally cut or fitted.
Plate
The fine nap (as of beaver, hare's wool, musquash, nutria, or English black wool) on a hat the body of which is of an inferior substance.
Plate
A quantity sufficient to fill a plate; a plateful; a dish containing that quantity; a plate of spaghetti.
Plate
The food and service supplied to a customer at a restaurant; as, the turkey dinner is $9 a plate; I'll have a plate of spaghetti.
Plate
A flat dish of glass or plastic with a fitted cover, used for culturing microorganisms in a laboratory.
Plate
The identification tag required to be displayed on the outside of a vehicle; same as license plate; - often used in the plural.
Plate
An agenda or schedule of tasks to be performed; I have a lot on my plate today.
Plate
To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals, either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a chemical process, as electrotyping.
Plate
To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with metal for defense.
Thus plated in habiliments of war.
Plate
To adorn with plated metal; as, a plated harness.
Plate
To beat into thin, flat pieces, or laminæ.
Plate
To calender; as, to plate paper.
Plate
A sheet of metal or wood or glass or plastic
Plate
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score;
He ruled that the runner failed to touch home
Plate
A full-page illustration (usually on slick paper)
Plate
Dish on which food is served or from which food is eaten
Plate
The quantity contained in a plate
Plate
A rigid layer of the Earth's crust that is believed to drift slowly
Plate
The thin under portion of the forequarter
Plate
A main course served on a plate;
A vegetable plate
The blue plate special
Plate
Any flat platelike body structure or part
Plate
The positively charged electrode in a vacuum tube
Plate
A flat sheet of metal or glass on which a photographic image can be recorded
Plate
Structural member consisting of a horizontal beam that provides bearing and anchorage
Plate
A shallow receptacle for collection in church
Plate
A dental appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth
Plate
The position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws;
A catcher needs a lot of protective equipment
He plays behind the plate
Plate
Coat with a layer of metal;
Plate spoons with silver
Common Curiosities
Are there dishes that can be served in both a bowl and a plate?
Yes, some dishes like salads or pasta can be served in either, depending on presentation preference.
Is there a cultural significance to choosing between a bowl and a plate?
Yes, in some cultures, certain meals or ceremonies may specifically require the use of either a bowl or a plate.
Are there eco-friendly options for bowls and plates?
Yes, there are eco-friendly options made from biodegradable materials, bamboo, or recycled glass.
What is the primary difference between a bowl and a plate?
The primary difference is their shape: bowls are concave for liquids, while plates are flat for solids.
How do you decide whether to use a bowl or a plate for a meal?
The decision is often based on the meal's liquidity, ease of eating, and presentation style.
Is it more common to eat from a bowl or a plate in restaurants?
It depends on the cuisine and the specific dishes offered by the restaurant.
Can both bowls and plates be used for serving food?
Yes, both are used for serving food, but their suitability varies with the meal's nature.
Do bowls and plates come in standard sizes?
No, both come in various sizes and depths to accommodate different types of meals and serving preferences.
Can bowls and plates be used for decorative purposes?
Yes, both can serve decorative purposes, especially those with artistic designs or cultural significance.
Are there any foods that should not be served in a bowl or plate made from specific materials?
Yes, acidic foods can react with certain metals, and very hot foods may not be suitable for plastic bowls or plates.
Can the material of a bowl or plate affect the taste of food?
While the material doesn't directly affect taste, it can influence the dining experience and temperature retention.
Is it more efficient to store bowls or plates in kitchen cabinets?
Plates are typically more stackable and may take up less space, but this can vary based on the kitchen layout and storage options.
Can using a bowl or plate affect portion control?
Yes, the size and depth of bowls and plates can influence perception of portion size and amount consumed.
How have bowls and plates evolved over time?
Both have evolved in design and material to meet aesthetic preferences and practical needs.
Do bowls and plates require different care or cleaning methods?
Generally, they can be cleaned similarly, but some materials may require special care or are not dishwasher safe.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
