1. The process of plating or coating a conducting surface with a metal by a process of electrolysis.
2. The electrodeposition of an adherent metal coating onto a conductive object for protection, decoration, or for other reasons; such as, securing a surface with properties or dimension that are different from those of the basic metal.
3. Electrodeposition (deposit on an electrode by electrolysis) of a metal or alloy from a suitable electrolyte solution.

The article to be plated is connected as the cathode in the electrolyte solution while direct electrical current is introduced through the anode which consists of the metal to be deposited.

4. The art or process of depositing a coating or cover; for example, silver, gold, or nickel on an inferior metal, by means of an electric current.

The metal to be deposited on an article is usually used as the anode and the article to be plated as the cathode, in an electrolyte solution in which the plating metal is the cation.