dish

n. [ AS. disc, L. discus dish, disc, quoit, fr. Gr. di`skos quoit, fr. dikei^n to throw. Cf. Dais, Desk, Disc, Discus. ] 1. A vessel, as a platter, a plate, a bowl, used for serving up food at the table. [ 1913 Webster ]

She brought forth butter in a lordly dish. Judg. v. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The food served in a dish; hence, any particular kind of food, especially prepared food; as, a cold dish; a warm dish; a delicious dish. “A dish fit for the gods.” Shak.

Home-home dishes that drive one from home. Hood. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being concave, or like a dish, or the degree of such concavity; as, the dish of a wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A hollow place, as in a field. Ogilvie. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mining) (a) A trough about 28 inches long, 4 deep, and 6 wide, in which ore is measured. (b) That portion of the produce of a mine which is paid to the land owner or proprietor. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. anything with a discoid and concave shape, like that of a dish. [ PJC ]

7. an electronic device with a concave reflecting surface which focuses reflected radio waves to or from a point, used as a receiving or transmitting antenna; also called dish antenna. The dish is often shaped as a paraboloid so as to achieve a high sensitivity and enable reception of weak signals when used as a receiving antenna, or to focus transmitted signals into a narrow beam when used as a transmitting antenna.
Syn. -- dish aerial, dish antenna, saucer. [ PJC ]

8. a very attractive woman or young lady, especaially one sexually attractive; -- sometimes considered offensive and sexist; as, the departmental secretary is quite a dish. [ slang ]
Syn. -- smasher, stunner, knockout, beauty, sweetheart, peach, lulu, looker, mantrap, dish. [ WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

9. a favorite activity, or an activity at which one excels. [ slang ]
Syn. -- cup of tea, bag. [ WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

10. the quantity that a dish will hold, or a dish filled with some material.
Syn. -- dishful. [ WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

satellite dish a dish antenna used to receive signals from or to transmit signals to a satellite which transmits or receives radio signals. In most common usage, it refers to small dish antennas used to receive television programs broadcast from geostationary satellites. [ PJC ]