multidish

Multidish is a term used in several different fields to refer to a vessel or product that combines multiple dishes, compartments, or units into a single item. Because it is not standardized, its exact meaning varies with context.

In culinary contexts, a multidish usually describes a plating arrangement or service set that presents several distinct components together on one plate or tray, or a collection of small dishes served as a shared course. It is often used in catering, tasting menus, and buffet settings to offer variety in a compact format.

In laboratory and biotech contexts, multidish typically refers to a culture vessel or plate designed for parallel processing. These can be plates with multiple isolated wells or compartments, allowing simultaneous inoculation, sampling, or testing of different specimens under uniform conditions. They are common in microbiology and cell biology for high-throughput workflows and can be disposable. Materials are often polystyrene or other plastics, with formats ranging from segmented dishes to multi-well carriers that resemble microplates.

In manufacturing or surface treatment contexts, multidish may denote a rack or holder that accommodates several parts for processing in a single run, such as polishing, cleaning, or electroplating.

Given its broad usage, users should consult domain-specific documentation to determine the exact features and intended use of a multidish in a given setting.