A gate is a human-built barrier installed within or across a boundary — a wall, fence, hedge, or opening — that controls passage by opening or closing. Its parameters are: (1) the aperture it can expose or conceal, (2) the actuation mechanism (manual, mechanical, electronic), (3) the authority required to operate it. It persists through physical construction (wood, metal, stone, wire) combined with a latching or locking mechanism that distinguishes a state of 'open' from a state of 'shut.' [formal: ianua | substrate: matter | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
gate
A gate is a human-built barrier installed within or across a boundary — a wall, fence, hedge, or opening — that controls passage by opening or closing. Its parameters are: (1) the aperture it can expose or conceal, (2) the actuation mechan…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made barrier structure designed to open and close within a wall, fence, or enclosure, controlling passage while the wall provides continuous boundary. Built of materials and sustained by maintenance, gates persist through physical construction and social convention about who may pass.
Names and aliases
- gateen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrhnc65902098aehuxnv9f0wSERVES →
A gate is built and maintained for access control and security — its designed purpose is to restrict or permit passage, serving the security function. For whose sake? The gate serves security, not the reverse. SERVES (Law 8d): by-design purpose, not mere association.
- cmr98h9fl008khcxfwebiv8rnINSTANCE_OF →
Gate extends human access-control capacity — an artifact built to perform a function (Law 11c). A competent speaker accepts 'a gate is a tool' in the kingdom's broad sense: any artifact that extends a human capacity qualifies as a tool, including passive artifacts like shelves and gates.
- cmrv95hcn00ej2ceiyhbz89dxINSTANCE_OF →
A gate IS a specific kind of mechanism — a device that controls passage through an opening. Law 9: specific→general. A competent speaker calls a gate 'a mechanism' (a mechanism for controlling access/passage).
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 10, 2026, 5:36 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 1434ce59c2f47b952fef1f2d8573d5cbe346e2e6143356f8b3aa4fc570039af6