A plate, mate? (5)
I believe the answer is:
china
This might be a double definition.
'a plate' is the first definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'mate?' is the second definition.
(cockney rhyming slang, mate is china plate)
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for china that I've seen before include "Large country; mate" , "foreign country" , "Mate (Cockney rhyming slang)" , "Ceramic; country" , "Make a chain in the country" .)