# platen

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈplætən/ · frequency rank #95,273

## Definitions
1. The part of a printing press which presses the paper against the type and by which the impression is made.
2. The part of a typewriter or printer on which the paper rests to receive an impression.
3. The movable table of a planer or other machine tool, on which the work is fastened, and presented to the action of the tool.
4. The flat glass surface of a scanner or photocopier on which operators place items to be scanned.

## Etymology
From French platine, from plat (“flat”). See plate, and compare platin.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/platen