Flachteller

Flachteller is a German term that translates literally as "flat plate." It denotes a flat, circular object with little or no curvature and is used in several domains with context-dependent meaning. In everyday German, it can refer to a serving plate or dish with a flat profile.

In gastronomy, a flachteller is a serving plate with a broad flat surface, used to present dishes in a minimalist style. It contrasts with deeper bowls or rimmed plates and is common in contemporary restaurants and culinary photography.

In technical and industrial contexts, Flachteller refers to a flat, disc-shaped component used in machinery or devices. Examples include flat discs used as spacers, washers, thrust discs, or bearing surfaces in rotating assemblies. The exact component labeled as a flachteller can vary by industry and manufacturer, and in English-language documentation the term is rarely used; translations such as "flat disc," "flat plate," or simply "disc" are more common depending on context.

Because the meaning changes with field, the term is usually clarified by accompanying material, size, and tolerance specifications in catalogs or technical drawings. The word appears mainly in German-language sources and is not widely standardized in English usage.