GATE, n.
1. A large door which gives entrance into a walled city, a castle, a temple, palace or other large edifice. It differs from door chiefly in being larger. Gate signifies both the opening or passage, and the frame of boards, planks or timber which closes the passage.
2. A frame of timber which opens or closes a passage into any court, garden or other inclosed ground also, the passage.
3. The frame which shuts or stops the passage of water through a dam into a flume.
4. An avenue an opening a way.
In scripture, figuratively, power, dominion. "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies " that is, towns and fortresses. Genesis 22
The gates of hell, are the power and dominion of the devil and his instruments. Matthew 16
The gates of death, are the brink of the grave. Psalms 9