Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Plate \Plate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plated}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Plating}.]
   1. To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals,
      either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a
      chemical process, as electrotyping.

   2. To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with
      metal for defense.

            Thus plated in habiliments of war.    --Shak.

   3. To adorn with plated metal; as, a plated harness.

   4. To beat into thin, flat pieces, or lamin[ae].

   5. To calender; as, to plate paper.

Plating \Plat"ing\, n.
   1. The art or process of covering anything with a plate or
      plates, or with metal, particularly of overlaying a base
      or dull metal with a thin plate of precious or bright
      metal, as by mechanical means or by electro-magnetic
      deposition.

   2. A thin coating of metal laid upon another metal.

   3. A coating or defensive armor of metal (usually steel)
      plates.

Source : WordNet®

plating
     n 1: a thin coating of metal deposited on a surface [syn: {metal
          plating}]
     2: the application of a thin coat of metal (as by electrolysis)