/ kreɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a large wooden container for transporting goods :
a crate of bananas
2.
a container made of plastic or metal divided into small sections, for transporting or storing bottles :
a beer crate
3.
the amount of sth contained in a crate :
They drank two crates of beer.
■ verb
[ vn ] crate sth (up) to pack sth in a crate
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : perhaps related to Dutch krat tailboard of a wagon, earlier box of a coach, of unknown origin.