1. (gate electrode) An electrode or electrodes in a field-effect transistor, MOS capacitor, MOS integrated circuit, charge-coupled device, or thyristor.
2. (digital gate) A digital circuit that has two or more inputs but only one output. The conditions applied to the inputs determine the voltage level at the output. The output is switched between two or more discrete values. Digital gates are widely used in logic circuits, and are then known as logic gates.
3. (analogue gate) A linear circuit or device that produces an output signal only during a specified interval of the input signal. During this interval the output is a continuous function of the input signal. Analogue gates are widely used in radar and electronic control systems.
4. An electric signal or trigger that allows a circuit or device to operate. The most common method of gating is to employ a clock.