What is another word for crustal plate?
Pronunciation: [kɹˈʌstə͡l plˈe͡ɪt] (IPA) 
A crustal plate, also known as a tectonic plate, is a large section of the Earth's crust that moves over the mantle. There are several synonyms for this term, including lithospheric plate and continental plate. The lithospheric plate is the solid layer of the Earth's crust and upper mantle that forms the plates upon which the continents sit. Continental plate refers specifically to the large plates that contain continents and extends beneath the surrounding ocean, while tectonic plate is a more general term that encompasses all the Earth's crustal plates. Regardless of the term used, understanding the movement and behavior of these plates is critical in our understanding of processes such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
