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Gate

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A gate is a way to enter or leave a space. This space is often held by walls or a fence.

Gate of the BCR Headquarters Building (Bucharest, Romania)
Gate of the BCR Headquarters Building (Bucharest, Romania)

Some gates are used to control who goes in or out. Other gates are made just to look pretty. These are called decorative gates. A gate can be a tiny barrier or a huge entrance. They are important for many different types of places.

Castel Béranger, February 16, 2013
Castel Béranger, February 16, 2013

Most gates have moving parts that act like doors. These parts are fixed on one side. They swing open and shut to let things pass. A gate might have a latch to help it work. You can raise or lower a latch to open it. A latch can also stop a gate from swinging. Some gates use locks to make a place more secure.

Torii de Miyajima 2
Torii de Miyajima 2

The word gate comes from an old language. It comes from the Proto-Germanic word *gatan. This old word meant a passageway or an opening. In the past, people used the word to mean a gap. They meant a hole in a wall or a fence. They did not mean a barrier that closed the hole. Another word for a gate is a portal. You might also hear the word yett.

Kebun Raya Bali Candi Bentar IMG 8794
Kebun Raya Bali Candi Bentar IMG 8794

People use many kinds of gates for different jobs. A baby gate keeps toddlers safe in one area. A badger gate lets small animals pass through a fence. Some gates are very large for a whole building. A castle or a fortified town might have these. A gatehouse can have doors that act as gates. There are also gates for race tracks called race gates.

Torii de Miyajima 2
Torii de Miyajima 2

You can move a gate in two main ways. Some gates are manual, which means you move them by hand. Other gates are automated, which means machines move them. You can see gates in many cultures around the world. In Japan, people use gates called torii in gardens. These are similar to the pailou in China. Other cultures use different styles like the torana in India.

Kebun Raya Bali Candi Bentar IMG 8794
Kebun Raya Bali Candi Bentar IMG 8794
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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Gate of the BCR Headquarters Building (Bucharest, Romania).jpg
Gate of the BCR Headquarters Building...
File:Castel Béranger, February 16, 2013.jpg
Castel Béranger, February 16, 2013.jpg
File:Kebun Raya Bali Candi Bentar IMG 8794.jpg
Kebun Raya Bali Candi Bentar IMG 8794.jpg
File:Torii de Miyajima 2.JPG
Torii de Miyajima 2.JPG
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