1 [C] a barrier like a door that is used to close an opening in a fence or a wall outside a building:
an iron gate * He pushed open the garden gate. * A crowd gathered at the factory gates. * the gates of the city
seealsoSTARTINGGATE
2 [C] an opening that can be closed by a gate or gates:
We drove through the palace gates.
3 [C] a barrier that is used to control the flow of water on a river or canal:
a lock / sluice gate
4 [C] a way out of an airport through which passengers go to get on their plane:
BA flight 726 to Paris is now boarding at gate 16.
5 [C] the number of people who attend a sports event:
Tonight's game has attracted the largest gate of the season.
6 (also gate money) [U] the amount of money made by selling tickets for a sports event:
Today's gate will be given to charity.
7 (-gate) (forming nouns from the names of people or places; used especially in newspapers) a political SCANDAL connected with the person or place mentioned:
Whitewatergate
ORIGIN From Watergate, the scandal in the United States that brought about the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.
