thumb|Gate from [[Bucharest (Romania)]]

thumb|right|[[Art Nouveau gate of Castel Béranger (Paris)]]

thumb|[[Candi bentar, a typical Indonesian gate that is often found on the islands of Java and Bali]]

A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word is derived from Proto-Germanic *gatan, meaning an opening or passageway. Synonyms include yett (which comes from the same root word) and portal. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall or fence, rather than a barrier which closed it. Gates may prevent or control the entry or exit of individuals, or they may be merely decorative. The moving part or parts of a gateway may be considered "doors", as they are fixed at one side whilst opening and closing like one.

A gate might have a latch that can be raised and lowered to both open a gate or prevent it from swinging. Gate operation can be either automated or manual. Locks are also used on gates to increase security.

Larger gates can be used for a whole building, such as a castle or fortified town. Doors can also be considered gates when they are used to block entry as prevalent within a gatehouse.

Purpose-specific types of gate

thumb|Japanese [[Torii at Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan, where the Hindu goddess Saraswati is worshipped as the Buddhist-Shinto goddess Benzaiten]]

  • Baby gate: a safety gate to protect babies and toddlers
  • Badger gate: gate to allow badgers to pass through rabbit-proof fencing
  • City gate of a walled city
  • Hampshire gate (a.k.a. New Zealand gate, wire gate, etc.)
  • Kissing gate on a footpath
  • Lychgate with a roof
  • Mon Japanese: gate. The religious torii compares to the Chinese pailou (paifang), Indian torana, Indonesian Paduraksa and Korean hongsalmun. Mon are widespread in Japanese gardens.
  • Portcullis of a castle
  • Race gate used for checkpoints on race tracks
  • Slip gate on footpaths
  • Turnstile
  • Watergate of a castle by navigable water
  • Slalom skiing gates
  • Wicket gate

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File:Shankharacharya,Gate,Birgunj.jpg|Shankharacharya Gate, Birgunj, is the main entry point of Nepal from North Bihar, India.

File:Gate ajar.jpg|This gate and massive gateposts has no locks—a gate marks a borderline in ownership/use and can allow passage.

File:Garden Gate.JPG|A small, elegant gate to a meadow path

File:Pergamonmuseum Babylon Ischtar-Tor.jpg|Ishtar Gate is the oldest city gate in existence

File:Wringin Lawang, Trowulan.jpg|Wringin Lawang, a 14th-century Majapahit split gate, called "Candi bentar", in Trowulan, Java, Indonesia

File:Ubud temple entrance.jpg|Richly decorated Indonesian Balinese temple gate called Paduraksa

File:Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia 8 by David Shankbone.jpg|This gate at Columbia University was closed to prevent entry of protesters

File:Finlayson gate1.jpg|The gate of Finlayson factory in Tampere, Finland

File:Kansai University,1923.jpg|A gate at Kansai University, built in 1923

File:MalKingsPalaceGate.jpg|Malaysian King's Palace Gate, Kuala Lumpur

File:Ohrid Upper Gate close-up.jpg|Medieval ironclad city gate, from the Upper Gate in the old town of Ohrid

File:Chinese type gate from kerala.jpg|Chinese traditional type gate (iron gate in front of house) in Kerala, India

File:MuscatRoadGate.jpg|Gates decorate routes in the entrance of Muscat, Oman

File:Kuwaitgate.jpg|Kuwait Gate, historically surrounded Kuwait City, built in 1929

File:Royal Military College of Canada front gates.jpg|Royal Military College of Canada front gates and gatehouse

File:Ernst Rudolph By the Entrance.jpg|Ernst Rudolph, By the Entrance

File:Nivala.vaakuna.svg|A wooden gate pictured in the coat of arms of Nivala

File:Royal Mint Melbourne.jpg|Decorative emblems of state are also fixed on gates to public buildings, old Royal Melbourne Mint

File:Shri Swaminarayan Mandir gate.jpg|Gate of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhavnagar, India

File:Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University gate on the eve of Namvistar Din celebrations.png|Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University gate on the eve of Namvistar Din celebrations reflects Ajanata art

File:Michael's Gate and tower-Bratislava-Slovakia.JPG|Michael's Gate in Bratislava, Slovakia

File:St Louis Gateway Arch.jpg|St. Louis Gateway Arch

File:Shunfeng Park Paifang (night).jpg|A Chinese Paifang at Foshan, China

File:Warszawa, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26-28 20170516 001.jpg|Warsaw University main gate, Poland

File:Gate of Farm Gunsteling in Namibia (2017).jpg|Gate of Farm Gunsteling in Namibia (2017)

File:Ancient gate of Suandok temple , Chiangmai , Thailand.jpg|Thai Temple (wat) gate at Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai

File:Ariyalai Mahamari Amman Kovil (அரியாலை மகாமாரி அம்மன் கோவில்).jpg|A gopuram, Hindu temple gate tower, in Sri Lanka

File:Eiheiji35nt3200.jpg|A Japanese temple gate (mon) at Eiheiji

File:Puerta Torre de los siete suelos Alhambra Granada Spain.jpg|A Moorish architecture gate in Alhambra, Granada, Spain

File:Gate of Thai Airways in Paris.jpg|A French-manner gate of the embassy of Thailand in Paris

File:Embassy of South Korea in Moscow, gates.jpg|Adapted-Korean-manner gate of the embassy of South Korea in Moscow

File:Iron Gates-Osgoode Hall National Historic Site of Canada-Toronto-Ontario-HPC4258-20221201.jpg|The Iron Gates of Osgoode Hall, Toronto

File:Waterson k51p sample4-2.jpg|Beachside gate with a self-latching device and a higher than 54” release mechanism.

File:Contemporary steel gates with naval heritage medallion on Military Road, Chatham, Kent, England.jpg|Military style gates in Chatham, Kent, England.

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See also

  • Barricade
  • Bar gate
  • Border
  • Gate tower
  • Gopuram
  • Leave the gate as you found it
  • Portal (architecture)
  • Triumphal arch

References